This post is sponsored by TextNow My day often starts with my two sleepy teens making their way to the breakfast table with phones in hand. They’ll catch up on TikTok or respond to texts or Snaps before it’s phones away as we eat. Sometimes one will send me a text with a link to…
3 Tips for Communicating with Your Child’s Teacher
This post is sponsored by TextNow After spending so long learning virtually, being back in school is a welcome change. Kids are adjusting to the new normal of in-person learning during a pandemic and settling into familiar routines. As parents, we’re relieved. We’re so glad our kids are in the presence of caring and capable…
Talking to Tweens About Sexting: How to Prepare and Keep the Conversation Going
This post is sponsored by Thorn for Parents and all opinions are my own. Online safety and sex top the list of uncomfortable topics for parents to address with kids, but have you talked about sexting and nudes yet? We’re aware of the implied safety risks of digital devices in our children’s hands but often…
The New Normal of In-Person Learning During a Pandemic
I start every class period at the door, smiling behind my mask as I greet students with a pump bottle of hand sanitizer. My students know hand sanitizer is required for admission to our computer lab. This is just part of the new normal of in-person learning during a pandemic. Some of my middle schoolers…
4 Ways to Help Provide Earthquake Relief for Haiti
If you’re a long-time reader and friend, you know my love for Haiti runs deep. I first traveled to Haiti in 2012 with a desire to get to know the country beyond what was being reported following the 7.0 earthquake in 2010. While visiting artisans around the country, I heard Haitians were skeptical. Visitors claimed…
How to Prepare for a Return to In-Person Learning
This post is sponsored by TextNow Back to school season is here and while we’re excited for the return to in-person learning, this year comes with a mix of emotions. Our kids may seem happy and well-adjusted but living and learning during the pandemic has been stressful. We can’t expect our kids to remember everything…
I Never Thought I Could Be a Minivan Mom Until I Became a Dog Mom
Confession: I’ve never been a minivan mom. We currently drive a station wagon that’s the same age as my daughter (17!) and a hybrid sedan. As we look to replace our aging station wagon, the 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid hadn’t been a contender until recently. And I credit Goldie, our 2 year old Golden Retriever…
5 Ways to Teach Tweens to Say No to Underage Drinking
I’ll never forget the day that my 9 year old daughter asked me for a beer when we were at a ballgame. I could have been shocked that my elementary schooler tested me with such an outrageous question in public, but I turned it around into a teachable moment. Having the knowledge to provide a…
NASA TechRise Student Challenge Invites Schools to Advance Space Exploration
As a middle school computer science teacher, I’m always looking for ways to connect what my students are learning about programming to the real world. As a parent, I’ve championed STEM learning in my own community by forming SilverSat. I know hands-on project based learning is one of the best ways for students to learn…
How Fair Trade Gifts Support Women in Haiti and Iraq
This post is sponsored by Catalyst Collections How we spend our money matters. We can choose to support retail giants, small businesses in our community, or buy fair trade gifts that support women in other countries. Personally, I love shopping small and for fair trade goods whenever possible, so the money I spend supports families….
