Q: My 8-year-old granddaughter lives with us full time, and she seems to be developing early. She has a 19-year-old sister to talk to, but I feel like I should be the one to take to her about puberty. How…
Tell us about your family. How many children do you have and what are their ages? I have three children, Allie (21), Jake (19), and Evan (15). What are you most grateful for this Mother’s Day? I am most grateful…
Tell us about your family. How many children do you have and what are their ages? My family consists of my global son, Brock Montgomery (16) (he has friends all over the world); my intelligent beyond-her-years daughter, Charli Ana (14)…
Tell us about your family. How many children do you have and what are their ages? I have two girls, Kaia Grey (5) and Nora Cole (16 months). What are you most grateful for this Mother’s Day? Our health and the…
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…
We all lose it. The constant pressures and unrealistic expectations mothers experience make us feel overwhelmed and maxed out. When it becomes too much, we lose it. The gentle, therapeutic term for this is dysregulation. Our toddlers do it when…
Q: I have a 15-year-old son. I love him but don’t know how to handle him. He’s moody, and bigger than me. He has never been physical or threatening, but sometimes I feel overwhelmed by him. My husband has talked…
The pandemic’s consequences on young people’s mental health has been significant. But Jessica Russell, a licensed clinical mental health counselor with Thriveworks, is encouraged to see more kids and teens discussing their mental health as a result. For the…
When the owners of a lakefront home in Cornelius wanted a designated play place for their three young daughters, the team at Aguilar Design Studio in Cornelius came to their rescue. Aaron and Laura Aguilar, the spouses and owners behind…
In 2016, Krista St-Germain became a widow and single parent of two children overnight after a drunk driver killed her husband. “Being a single parent can be overwhelming,” she says. “You are the only person taking on the parenting load.…
When our son Ben grew too large to be carried from his wheelchair to the beach, we wondered how we’d manage future trips to the shore. His favorite pastime is splashing at the ocean’s edge, and we didn’t want him…
Most of us mistakenly think self-confidence comes from reaching our goals and meeting expectations. It makes sense. Since childhood, we’ve been inundated with messages about who we should be, which leads to a relentless strive for external validation. The…
Q: How do I talk with my kids about what’s happening in Ukraine? –Veronica A: When COVID deaths were rampant, parents asked how to explain the sadness to their kids. When 2020 Presidential debates highlighted name-calling, parents asked how…
When her longtime clients wanted to update their children’s bedrooms, Hadley Quisenberry was already familiar with their Cotswold home. The owner and principal designer of West Trade Interiors had worked alongside her mother and business partner Lisa Britt to renovate…
If a traditional family getaway isn’t in your plans this spring break, you can still have a week of fun and relaxation in your hometown. Below is a roundup of thematic staycations to help you ditch your day-to-day routine…
Q: Dear Molly, I just got my third grader’s report card and am afraid he’s falling behind in reading and writing this year. Any good learning centers in town where I can supplement what he’s doing in school?—Katie A:…
February is American Heart Month, and we’re thrilled to introduce you to Dr. Sandy Charles, a board-certified cardiologist and medical director of Novant Health Women’s Heart & Vascular Center. The New York native is the daughter of Haitian immigrants and…
As a board certified specialist in family law and founder of GraserSmith, PLLC, Tonya Graser Smith counsels clients through divorce, property division, and co-parenting. In her personal life, she’s happily married to Mecklenburg County District Court Judge Sean Smith and…
Coming off the holidays can be brutal for our self-worth. We often bask in negative self-talk, shame, and guilt from over-indulging or falling into old patterns with family members. It can be difficult to muster the motivation for a…
Q: OK, Molly. I found out from another mom that our sons were repeating some swear words they learned from some 4th graders on the school bus. Our boys, of course, think they’re hilarious because they know they’re saying something…
Make this plant-forward meat base for Sloppy Joes and freeze half of it for a future meal. Just reheat it with a tablespoon of Italian or Latin seasoning, and you have the makings for spaghetti or taco night. If anyone…
If you haven’t yet heard about Reducetarianism, there’s a good chance you will in the new year. Whole Foods predicts it will be a top 10 food trend in 2022. In a culture of extreme diets, Reducetarianism focuses on what…
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…
Q: How do you get a stubborn child to wear a jacket in Winter?—Name Withheld A: I have no idea. My 7-year-old surfer son, Hutch, pretends it’s summer NoMatterWhat. Even in the dead of December, or rainy days standing in…
