Author: Pam Molnar
January is the coldest and darkest month of the year, but it is also a chance at a new beginning. Instead of letting the quiet of the post-holiday be filled with mindless scrolling on electronics, take this opportunity to reconnect with your spouse and kids.1. Make a Vision BoardWhat do you want 2025 to look like? You can make a vision board for each member of the family or a combined one for everyone. Use a poster board and add graphics or words from magazines or the Internet to display your goals. Your board might include vacation destinations, paint colors…
In 2024, it is no surprise to hear that families are busier than the generations before them. After work and school, soccer, and dance class, we don’t have very much free time. Even our time to visit with grandparents is limited these days. As a result, our children are missing out on the family stories and traditions of the generations before them. It’s time to cancel your plans and spend some time with Grandma and Grandpa. Here are some things you can do:Pass Down a TraditionAsk Grandma or Grandpa to share something from their childhood with your children. Whether it…
Thanksgiving has always been an adult holiday to me. There are no gifts to open, no special characters to represent the holiday like Christmas or Easter, and the whole holiday is focused around one large meal. To make matters worse, most of the time the kids have their own table sans china and fancy tablecloths and are too far away to hear the “good stories” at the adult table. Friendsgiving is a casual, kid-friendly Thanksgiving celebration hosted either before or after the actual holiday. This simple party can be hosted on the patio (if the weather allows) or in a…
Hey Mom and Dad! You know the fun doesn’t end just because summer is over. If your kids are curious, like to get dirty, and enjoy the magic of science, here are nine great seasonal science experiments for you to try: Where does the Water Go? Before the leaves change colors and start to fall, grab a few green leaves directly off the tree. Place the stems of the leaves in a mixture of water and red food coloring. You can see how the leaf absorbs the water as the color moves through it. Photograph and document the progress over the next…
The years seem to pick up speed as your child gets older. One minute, they are getting on the bus for kindergarten, and in the blink of an eye, they are walking across the stage at their high school graduation. Don’t let those years go by in a blur. Capture the first day of school with a tradition the kids will look forward to every year:Freeze a Memory1. Drive to your local high school a few days before school starts. Capture a picture of your child standing by the marquee or in front of the building, near the front door.…
The Olympic Games are the premier multi-sport event watched by the world. This year’s Games of the XXXIII Olympiad will take place from July 26 to Aug. 11 in France, with Paris as the main host city. Approximately 10,500 athletes from 206 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) will compete in 32 different sports. If you are looking for a way to get into the spirit of the games this summer, start by hosting Olympics-themed events in your own backyard. Here are a few ideas for games, decorations, and food:EventsArchery: Start by creating your own bow and arrows with small branches, adding a string to…
If you have a child graduating this year, chances are that you will be attending a lot of their friends’ parties as well as hosting your own. As a mom who has been there, I know it’s tough to make your graduation party stand out. You will likely use the same caterers, bakeries, and entertainment as the other graduates, causing an undesirable déjà vu.It’s important to remember that even though your child may graduate from the same school and participate in the same activities as their friends, they are still individuals. If you want to make their story stand out,…
Spring is a time for new growth, and it is the perfect opportunity to test out your creative skills. Crafting is a way to spend time together, encourage your kids to express themselves through creativity, and fill in the “I’m bored” moments on a rainy day. As a crafty mom, I try to keep basic craft supplies on hand – paints, glue, beads, yarn – and love to upcycle items that would have otherwise gone to a landfill. If you are looking for crafts to add to your spring plans, here are a few of our ideas: 1. Painted Rocks…