by Susan PerloffOnly once did I celebrate Christmas, and an excelsior phenomenon it was. The phrase "My only Christmas" sounds like the second line of "You are my sunshine," a warm and wonderful place to be. Want to hear?Years ago, my two young sons and I spend a few days skiing … [Read more...] about Our Only Christmas
Holidays
How Much Is Too Much?
How much is too much?When it's time for you to do your housework, do you have to clean up the toys scattered all over your basement, living room, family room and kids' bedrooms before beginning to vacuum? I encourage you to look around your home and take stock of the mountains of … [Read more...] about How Much Is Too Much?
Buying Food for Children at Christmas
Christmas is fast approaching, together with the traditional panics that are associated with this time of year.In our house, that means that we're starting to worry about what gifts we should buy. We're thinking carefully about what to choose for our own family members, as well … [Read more...] about Buying Food for Children at Christmas
The Calculus of Christmas
Yesterday, our family completed a yearly rite of passage for the Holiday season- the Christmas card picture. For some reason, this year was harder than most. The kids were cranky from a restless night sleep. All of the grandparents were in town which required multiple couplings, … [Read more...] about The Calculus of Christmas
Halloween Trips
Scare the Pants off your Kids Roadtrip StyleIt was an easy tradition -- the evening would slither in, greeting shadows and harvest stars. The streets would be transformed into supernatural temples, with pumpkin grins and black cat howls. And children would shape themselves into … [Read more...] about Halloween Trips
Parenting viewpoints from parents in the trenches, because parenting doesn’t come with a manual. In addition to