From This Side of the Desk: What’s the skinny on homeschooling?

November 9, 2023 |

By Roxanne Drury As a former teacher, the history of public and religious education has always fascinated me. It is no surprise that history books tell us that no established school system existed when the Pilgrims first came to America. Therefore, parents who wished their children to be educated assumed the role of teacher. In…

It’s time to…
Reconnect with your children

March 1, 2023 |

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,…

Seasons
There are 4 in all – choose your favorite

March 1, 2023 |

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…

TRICA!!!

March 1, 2023 |

Observed Trials
No motorcycle risky speeds required

March 1, 2023 |

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…

Children’s Book Corner
What makes a kids’ book worth reading?

March 1, 2023 |

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,…

Are you ready?
Emergency preparedness for families

March 1, 2023 |

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…

Daylight saving time
Get your family ready for the change

March 1, 2023 |

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…

Brisket challenge
This will be easy – except it wasn’t

January 19, 2023 |

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…

Real Money Real Families
Personal finance vs. household finance

January 19, 2023 |

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…