By:  Diane Meehl, Guest blogger and mother of three Growing up, we had the run of the neighborhood.  Back then, kids everywhere ran home when the streetlights turned on.  Ah, the good old days. Today we’ve largely moved kids indoors … Continue reading →

By:  Diane Meehl   You’ve saved and planned and packed and prepared.  You’ve worked so hard to take your kids on a fantastic journey to (insert coveted vacation spot) and the kids are fighting. Complaining about the food. Whining about the long … Continue reading →

We’ve all heard them. Tragic stories of bullying and child suicide have gripped our nation and shone a stark light on this age-old problem. Though the issue has spurred renewed determination among parents and educators to raise awareness, the bad … Continue reading →

Ah, it’s almost here. Absolutely my favorite night of the month, right up there with “dinner-is-anything-you-can-fix-yourself-night.” Date night. I admit; it takes some juggling. Scoring a sitter, feeding the kids, picking out something to wear that says, “hot mama” instead of “frazzled mama,” peeling a fiercely protesting wee one off my hip. But once we’re out the door – freedom!

It’s evolved over time, this night we set aside to preserve the romance (and I use that term loosely!) that began 17 years ago when we whispered “I do’s” with stars in our eyes. Early on, date night took place whenever the mood struck – lazy afternoons at the movies, dancing on Friday nights, weekends camping with friends. Once the kids arrived, it seemed as though date night might have gone the way of other luxuries, such as eating hot meals and going to the bathroom alone. Continue reading →

In 2008 more than one third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese. The rate of obesity in children has tripled over the last three decades – it has truly become an epidemic.

The primary cause of obesity is caloric imbalance – we eat too much, and move too little. Today’s average child does not get enough exercise, spends too much time on passive entertainment, and fails to sustain healthy eating habits. These may seem like significant challenges to address in busy, time-strapped families – but parents can help their kids make better choices that will lead to a lifetime of healthy living. Continue reading →