“Mama, will you play on the train with me?” my daughter asked, lining up the dining chairs to form a line of seats. “Sure! Where’s my seat on the train?” I responded, thinking we were about to engage in some good, old-fashioned pretend play together. This is what childhood is supposed to be all about, right? “You can sit riiiight …
How we found balance with screen time
Like any 1980s child, I grew up watching TV. And not just the occasional commercial-free documentary for its educational content. We’re talking Looney Toons, Nickelodeon shows with the apparent sole purpose of broadcasting green slime dumped on people’s heads, and the same Disney movies hundreds of times over. It was fun. Sometimes it was boring. I believe it was referred …
Simplifying the holidays: Easter edition
Reliving the childhood magic of holidays through the eyes of our children is one of the highlights of parenthood. At the same time, holidays can present a conundrum for those of us who are trying to simplify and focus on the things that matter most to us. How do we create holiday fun without the consumerist frenzy that …
Clear Your Mind (And Your Floor)
We are stuck in a vicious cycle. Dirty dishes in the sink, toys everywhere, bills and mail lie unopened covering a quarter of the dining table. The fish tank is growing things, you’re down to your last pair of underwear, your kid has spaghetti dried in his hair. It’s easy to feel frazzled on the daily.
Choose Your Battles
Although I don’t like the word “battles”, this has been somewhat of mantra of mine for a while now. Way before I had kids, when I was teaching kids with special needs, I would hear this phrase ringing in my mind. Many of my students had significant physical, sensory, emotional, psychological and health related needs. It was pretty vital to …
Five steps to embracing holiday minimalism
Does preparing for the holidays fill you with stress? Are you dreading finding something for everyone on your list? Are you fearing for the barrage of STUFF that will soon descend upon your household? Wouldn’t it be nice to replace these feelings of stress and dread with feelings of calm and joy? Here are five tips to cut down on …
