Uncategorized

By Luke Erickson So, you knew this had to be an article about COVID-19, right? I mean, has there been any other kind of article since March? Let’s say that hypothetically I managed to go an entire article without mentioning Corona…you’d be like, “Uhh, dude, do you live in a cave or something? And if…

By Sandy McDaniel A mother called me recently, very distraught that her family was in turmoil over an event that happened the previous night. Her daughter, age 12, had just received a new basketball for her birthday. Her younger brother asked to use it at a game that night during half-time. Her answer was affirmative,…

By Mary Ann Wilcox Is it time to buy a new wardrobe? You can cut the time you spend shopping, reduce your budget for clothing expenses and eliminate duplicates and mistakes in your wardrobe with this handy shopping aid. It’s called a “wardrobe in your pocket.” It is a handy little book that has swatches…

By Patrick and J.L. Hempfing Parents deal with stress in a variety of ways. Tennis is my stress outlet, along with eating ice cream and donuts. Obviously, playing tennis is a much healthier choice than comfort foods. Recently, my daughter Jessie came home excited to share a new stress-fighting activity she had heard about —…

By Sandy McDaniel As I’ve mentioned in prior columns, I am a super-fan of Mr. Fred Rogers. His message was about teaching children to feel their feelings and that it was acceptable to express feelings. I cringe when I hear a parent say, “You need to man-up!” Translation for that is to swallow your feelings…

By Gaye Bunderson Some of us grew up in communities where the biggest cultural event of the week was a night out bowling. Others are much luckier, and that includes children and families in the Treasure Valley, where there is a wealth of arts and culture to be experienced. If you think “arts and culture”…

Mary Ann Wilcox Park hopping is one of my family’s favorite summer activities. Most communities have parks, and regardless of whether they are big or small, all have space to play, picnic, and just enjoy your family. I have a bag of staples I always keep in my car at this time of year. It…

By Sandy Spurgeon McDaniel I believe all ideas come from God, so I am not being egotistical when I tell you that I’ve not seen a discipline technique work as well as “my” Minute Drill. Parents are exhausted from telling a child to do the same thing a hundred times, breaking up fights, dealing with…

By Adrianne Goff In 1956 we lived out in the country at a place called Canyon Creek, Montana. While my dad was out working, my mother, bless her heart, was mostly a stay at home mom taking care of my two younger brothers and me. Having a dad that hunted and trapped for a living,…