Between after-school activities, homework, and work commitments, finding time for a family dinner can feel impossible. Yet sharing a meal together—even just a few times a week—offers lasting rewards. Research shows that kids who regularly eat with their families enjoy…
The holidays can be a sensory explosion—and not just for children. I’m talking about parents, too. As soon as the holiday season kicks off, your to-do list goes from 1 million to 10 million items, with shorter deadlines and more…
Q: Kids are 12, 9, and 7. What are some good YouTube channels that are entertaining but not just complete brain rot? A: Honestly? I don’t like any of them. Even YouTube Kids, which is marketed directly to children. My…
Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) has a robust magnet program that gives students access to free Montessori School, STEAM Academies, Dual Language Immersion (with your choice of five languages!)—programs that would otherwise cost you thousands in tuition. Elementary magnet schools are…
In a world that often feels hurried and disconnected, Elizabeth Anne Russell is on a mission to bring back kindness, confidence, and the lost art of good manners. As founder of Mannerly and the Charlotte School of Etiquette, she’s helping…
October is ADHD Awareness Month—a time to celebrate brain differences, not judge them. When you understand how the ADHD brain functions and processes information, you are more likely to parent productively, as opposed to feeling frustrated because nothing is working.…
Q: I’ve heard and seen lots of reports about kid accidents on e-scooters and e-bikes. Yet they’re all around our city and fairly convenient. Should my kids ride them? At what age? What are the ultimate risks and how do…
When my children were little, discussions about what costumes to wear for Halloween began in September. They loved dressing up, attending Halloween parties at school, trick-or-treating with friends, and then sorting (and eating) the candy they collected. While my children…
When my son was in a tween, he asked if he could take golf lessons. I signed him up for introductory lessons with a golf pro. He enjoyed it so much I sent to a summer golf camp for a…
Q: A few weeks ago, my 2-and-a-half-year-old daughter broke two plates in the kitchen (thank God she didn't hurt herself). I remember keeping the plates in the middle of the table, so I asked her how they broke. She said…
Each year, our sister publication, Charlotte magazine, releases a list of the Castle Connolly Top Doctors in Charlotte, based on a peer survey conducted by Castle Connolly. Doctors are selected through a peer nomination process, and then evaluated by a physician-led research…
For moms, cosmetic surgery comes with extra considerations
It's back-to-school season, and for some families, it involves more than just buying new backpacks, folders, and pencils. For neurodivergent families, this is a time to focus on developing executive function skills. If you want your morning routine to be…
One of the toughest parts of parenting is watching your child struggle. Whether they're upset about a grade, being left out of a party, or not making the starting lineup of a sport, it's hard to ignore the immediate impulse…
Q: How do I as a parent deal with other kids coming over for a play date with cellphones? We are pretty strict with no iPads, video games, or phones for our kids (ages 8 and 10), but this is…
I discovered Trey Kennedy several years ago while scrolling TikTok. One of his videos popped up on my feed—it was a skit about the difference between Mom waking a kid up for school and when Dad does it. I laughed…
July is Disability Pride Month, which celebrates the achievements and contributions of people with disabilities. It’s also a time to reframe the negative ways children with different abilities are often portrayed. While they do require extra support and assistance, the…
Q: Hi, Molly! The other day, someone asked me, “How many kids do you have”? Simple question, but not an easy one to answer if you’ve lost a child. Do I say four, but one is in heaven? Or do…
José Rolón, a New York-based wedding planner, content creator, and activist, has more than half a million followers on TikTok. Under the handle, @nycgaydad, Rolón posts about family life as a single father of three. "I began posting on Instagram…
Dr. Seti Byrd is the founder of the uptown luxury dental practice, Skyview Dentistry. Here, the mom of three talks to us about emotional regulation in parenting, the importance of couple trips, and how to get kids excited about brushing…
When my children were younger, I envied the relationship they had with my husband. I felt like their dad was the fun parent and I was the one they were forced to have. He was a delicious piece of cake,…
Q: My 9-year-old daughter begged me for a bunny for her birthday in February, and I got her one with the agreement that she would be in charge of feeding it and cleaning its cage. It’s been a few months…
Dr. Jonathan Riboh is a team physician for Charlotte FC and the Carolina Panthers, where surgical knee repairs are part of the job description. But in his day job as an orthopedic surgeon for OrthoCarolina, he regularly sees torn anterior…
Q: I am planning a few trips with my toddler over the next few months and am nervous about how it’s going to go. I have been reading articles and watching videos, but would love to hear real advice from…
