The not-so-hidden benefits of the weekly family meeting
My husband invites me to beers with the guys at least once a month. Occasionally, I invite him to a pedicure. We’re not requesting each other’s presence; we just need to make sure the other person’s schedule is free to watch the kids while we enjoy ourselves. Like most people, my husband and I rely […]
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The natural beauty of letting memories make themselves
My husband is a man of traditions. He loves them, craves them, looks forward to them, and likes to create them from scratch. We could be in the midst of something totally new, not even sure it’s a success yet, not even sure we’re going to live to see the other side, and he’ll call […]
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What I hope you learn in Kindergarten
You might have been this excited once before. That time we surprised you with a birthday trip to Disney World might hold a candle to this giant, yellow bus. It’s the same one you’ve watched drive along our street for years, and today it stops for you on your first day of Kindergarten. The steps look […]
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The search for the elusive and complete baby book
You tucked them away for safe keeping. Eventually, you come across the tiny treasures of the hospital bracelet, inked footprints, and first family photo that’s been misplaced. And then you remember why. You picture the unfinished baby book abandoned on the shelf and see the best of intentions. The reality of year one Traditional fill-in […]
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A letter to my daughter about loving yourself
Dear Daughter, This morning, just like every morning, you walked out of your room wearing the most gloriously mismatched outfit. You beamed with pride because you picked your clothes out all by yourself, and you loved how the colors looked on you. For you, getting dressed is pure joy, because it is a chance to […]
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Guided Practice: A Meditation of Alignment
Click on the arrow below for a sweet, guided practice. It’s less than 10 minutes and a nice way to experience meditation for first timers, newly dabblers or longtime meditators. Lani Catherine is an energy healer and mother who left a 20 year corporate career to dedicate her life to helping others find their path to […]
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Child psychologist on expecting and being a “good” mom
Every day I have the honor and privilege of helping children with their emotional, behavioral and educational functioning. I am a child psychologist and behavior analyst. I love children, and more importantly, I love working with and helping them find happiness and success in whatever shape that looks like for them. When my husband and […]
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Savoring summer with a cherry on top
What’s the magic in summer? Is it the sense of calm that comes from freedom to slow down a smidge? Or maybe it’s the bottled up excitement for a week at the beach that cannot get here soon enough. We enjoy longer days to fill up with dips in the pool and dripping ripe watermelon. […]
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My birthday gift to my kids is the same every year
When I was anxiously awaiting the signs of the labor I wrote this letter to the sweet, smooshed up face that would change me forever in what turned out to be just a few days. Seven letters later, I suppose it has become a sort of tradition that goes well with ice cream cake and […]
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One word to make 2017 worth it
So I just have to ask…how’s that New Year’s resolution going? Maybe you intentionally did not make one because you know from years past how that story ends. You might have read how I wasn’t big on New Year’s resolutions and evidence proves the rest of you aren’t either. A small piece of the pie […]
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