By Sandy McDaniel In the past few years, parents have raised their eyebrows as I rant about the negative effects of current-day technology on our children. It’s difficult to see components of a storm when you are in the middle of it. Let’s look, once again, at my top concerns: For more than 60 years,…
By Gaye Bunderson Once again, I’ve tapped a number of contributors, advertisers, interviewees, and friends about a family-related topic, soliciting their views on a subject we all have an opinion about: What is your family’s favorite season, and why? The idea was to stoke the fires of enthusiasm for events and vacations to come. Our…
By Dennis Lopez Contrary to its formal name, Observed Trials, it’s a challenging motorcycle competition that, unfortunately, most people in the United States have never seen.Unlike most competitive motorcycle events, trials – not trails – riding doesn’t involve speed but rather is focused upon balance, riding skills and motorcycle control.A trials event is split into…
By Jenna Shaver Not all children’s books are created equally.Most likely we’ve all heard from all corners of our world how important it is to read to children. We’ve browsed our local bookstore or received books as gifts that we’ve later seen our children thumbing through at quiet times. Special moments, indeed.As a Montessori teacher,…
By Sarah Lyons Are you prepared if a disaster strikes? It isn’t my favorite question to consider, but with children in the house it is good to ensure that my family is ready if fire, inclement weather, or worse affects our home and safety. How do you begin to prepare for the unexpected? Start with…
By Cara Johnson-Bader Daylight saving time is just around the corner on March 12. We know that the time change can wreak havoc on the sleep schedule for parents and their children. Use the following tried-and-true tips to help you and your child experience a smooth transition during the time change. The teachers at New…
By Dennis Lopez If you are a writer, you know that the foundation for any story is people, place and a problem.If you are someone familiar with the art of smoking meat, no doubt you are familiar with the hundreds of YouTube clips out there to give you limitless advice on how to prepare and…
By Luke Erickson One time my daughter gave me a can of Pringles for my birthday. She knows that I try to eat healthy but that chips are my kryptonite. I opened the gift, gave her a hug, and then she immediately said, “Dad, can I have some?”There’s a clear lesson here. Six-year-olds are adorable…
By Macaile Hutt I recently had a conversation with a co-worker about how difficult it is for him to say “no.” He noted that even in the moments he is strong enough to say no, he ends up ruminating over the fact that he might have disappointed someone or should have just said yes in…