Author: Randi Mazzella

Beyond Soccer and Baseball

When Donna Meyer's two sons were little, she tried getting them involved in every sport available in her town. "They were very active kids,” she says. “I knew all the benefits they would get from playing sports, from physical exercise…

Tips for Parents of Reluctant Readers

When my daughter was in the first grade, her teacher required students to complete a reading log each school night. I remember one evening when my daughter had tears as she struggled to get through her 15 minutes of required…

Holiday Gifts That Last All Year

Last November, when I asked my sister-in-law for gift ideas for my nieces and nephew, she was stumped. My 9-year-old nephew had a few items on his list for me to choose from, but my twin 6-year-old nieces weren't asking…

How Does Your Garden Grow?

As parents, it's common to worry about what our children are eating. We want them to enjoy a wide range of nutritious foods and to develop a healthy relationship with food, but getting children to try new flavors and eat…

Yes, I Am a Stay-At-Home Dad

  Shannon Carpenter has been a stay-at-home dad for 14 years. "Initially, I was joking when I suggested to my wife that I stay home with our then 15-month-old son,” he says. “But the more we talked about it, the more…

Take Time to Mother Yourself

  I recently saw this meme on Instagram that made me chuckle (credit @mommycusses) ME: (Hanging one-handed from a cliff, seconds from death) MY KID: Can you hold this?   While the situation is exaggerated, the sentiment is relatable. Moms…

How to Discuss Puberty with Your Kids

  When I was pregnant with my third child, my husband and I couldn't wait to tell our two daughters, ages 8 and 5 at the time. We explained that Mommy had a baby in her belly and both girls…

Healthy Family Meals for the New Year

When I was a kid, my mom made one dinner that catered primarily to my father's palate. Unless it was a special occasion, my mom didn’t ask my brothers and me what we were in the mood to eat, and…

7 Things To Consider Before You Get a Pet

According to a survey by the American Pet Product Association, in 2020, pet ownership rose from 67% of households to an all-time high of 70%. If you haven’t taken the pet plunge yet, here are a few things to consider…

Is Now the Right Time for a Baby?

When deciding the right time to have a baby, considerations like maternal age, finances, and ages of other children come into play. For more than a year, the pandemic has given couples even more reason to wonder, “Is now the…

How Well-Mannered Are Your Kids?

Melinda Wenner Moyer always knew she wanted to write a parenting book but wasn't sure what aspect she wanted to tackle. One evening, she and her husband were discussing current events over dinner. "I was getting increasingly frustrated by the unsavory behavior…

How to Be an Ally Parent

June is LGBTQ Awareness Month, and across the country, picnics, parades, and workshops celebrate gay pride. They also provide an opportunity to support members of the LGBTQ community and educate your children on different family structures and backgrounds. If you…

When Mother’s Day is a Hard Day

We can all agree that motherhood is hard work and moms are more than deserving of a day that celebrates them and all they do. But for some people, Mother's Day can be difficult. "There is an assumption that it's…