Take a Break From Social Media for a Great Cause

Disclaimer: This project is my daughter’s service project with her Confirmation group, and I am one of the leaders of that group. From March 15th through March 21st, take a break from social media in support of a great cause. The increase in social media use and the increase in teen suicide are similar in chronology […]

Explaining the Coronavirus to Kids

The coronavirus is all over the news so there’s a good chance your kids–even little kids–have heard about it. So if they’re having some anxiety about it, check out “Just For Kids: A Comic Exploring The New Coronavirus” that was created by NPR News. Our school system sent this link out to parents today. It’s a comic strip that helps […]

Why You Need a Thermometer

“Do you have a fever?” It is a simple question, with a simple answer. Either your body temperature is elevated or it isn’t. But, so often, when I ask this of someone or ask it about one of their children, the answer is, “yes.” “What was it?” I will ask (because it matters) and the […]

What You Need to Know About Vaping

Why, oh why, does there always have to be something new to worry about?!? What the hell is vaping and why does it seem everyone is doing it? It all started with the introduction of e-cigarettes in 2007. Now, there are several different types of vaping devices, including MODS or advanced personal vaporizers and vape pens. E-cigs look like a […]

Is Your Child Getting Enough Sleep?

How much sleep do our kids need? The question is commonly debated by researchers and parents alike. The more, the better I usually say, up to a logical point of course. National guidelines under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend 8.5 hours of sleep for tweens and teens, and at least 10 hours for children ages 5-10. According to a recent study […]

Can Stress Affect the Gender of Your Baby?

Read This Before You Decide to Get Pregnant Again A new study by American and British researchers reveals there may a link between a woman’s stress level and whether she has a boy or a girl. High stress, measured in this study by both subjective participant reports and serum cortisol levels, seemed to increase the […]

College, Anxiety, and Our Immediate Gratification Culture

My oldest daughter went to college this year. As her mom, I was hoping she would hit the ground running, call to tell me everything was great, and be having so much fun, meeting so many wonderful people and feeling so appropriately challenged academically, she would be too busy to call again. As a realist, I knew […]

The Measles Vaccine and Seatbelts

Measles cases are on the rise. This comes as no surprise to me. Parents have chosen to not vaccinate their children, largely because of a since disproved theory that the MMR vaccine caused autism. The world is shrinking and globally contagious illnesses threaten our unvaccinated. I’m not quite sure why so much shade is still […]