Thank you to Capital One for sponsoring this post As a former classroom teacher, I can distinguish between social chatter and productive chatter. Social chatter was typical in my first-grade classroom as kids were transitioning between parts of the day or weren’t engaged in classroom tasks and had the power to create a ripple effect of off-task…
teens
2018 Gift Guide: Best STEM Gifts for Kids of All Ages
Since starting this blog almost 11 years ago, there’s been an influx of STEM focused toys on the market. There’s no shortage of products designed to foster curiosity and get our kids interested in these subjects but the teacher in me can distinguish between items that provide worthwhile STEM learning experiences versus those that masquerade…
2018 Gift Guide: Best Gifts for Teens (ages 13+)
If you’re a parent of a teen, you probably find yourself counting down milestones from time to time. The number of birthdays left to celebrate at home, remaining seasons of their favorite sport, years left in high school before they’re off to college, and maybe summers but let’s be honest, those 18 summers are a…
How to Talk to Tweens and Teens About Sexual Consent
From headlines in the daily paper, morning radio talk show hosts discussing it on the air, and news outlets sharing breaking news through Snapchat, it’s hard for our kids to avoid words and current events that are associated with sex. It may be tempting to change the radio station, turn off the nightly news, flip…
From Bourbon Street to the Bayou: 5 Days in New Orleans with Tweens
New Orleans may conjure up images of Mardi Gras and late-night degenerate behavior on Bourbon Street but families who are looking to visit will find a city rich with history, culture, delicious food, and lots of fun activities that will leave your kid wanting to unplug. From Bourbon Street to the Bayou and beyond, New…
How Bark Lets You Monitor Your Child’s Smartphone without Invading Their Privacy
This post is sponsored by Bark As expectant first-time moms and dads, we sought out as much information as possible about milestones at every age and stage. Fast forward to the present and there’s no handbook guiding us through the tween and teen years when it comes to our kids, mobile devices, and social media….
I’m Practicing Being an Empty Nester Now because 18 Summers is a Lie
All those summers you thought you had with your kids? 18 summers are a lie. It’s easy to get nostalgic about the dwindling summers we have with our children but what happens when they end? You won’t find the answer in a parenting book but I’ll let you in on my secret: Instead of pining…
4 Ways Autotrader Can Educate & Empower First Time Car Buyers
This post is sponsored by Everywhere Agency on behalf of Autotrader; however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. Fourteen years ago when I was a new mom, my husband and I started shopping for our first new family car. We had our sights set on a blue Volvo station wagon that would keep…
6 Ways to Support Girls Pursuing STEM and Lessons Learned from Raising a STEMinist
This post is sponsored by Always and Walmart. It’s late on a Wednesday night and I pass by her room, about to issue yet another reminder about bedtime when I pause at the doorway. My 8th grade daughter, Emily, is sitting at her desk, laptop open, fingers flying over the keys as she works furiously…
7 Ways to Help Your Middle Schooler Rediscover Reading for Pleasure
This post is sponsored by Disney-Hyperion who is partnering with me for a giveaway. It also includes affiliate links My two middle schoolers are counting down the days until the end of the school year and looking forward to summer where required reading for English class gives way to reading for pleasure. There’s no shortage of…
