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When you have no clue how to help your child with their math homework
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When you have no clue how to help your child with their math homework

Tell me if this sounds familiar.

Your child brings home a page of a page of double-digit subtraction problems.

You know… the kind where you have to “borrow” from the tens place to do the operation in the ones place.

You got this, you think…

But no, your kid politely informs you. You aren’t supposed to borrow. Instead, your child needs to use a method where he “counts up” from the number.

What in the world? This isn’t subtraction…at least not the way you learned it.

How are you expected to help your kid when the method doesn’t even make sense?

How a Planner Can Keep You Sane

How a Planner Can Keep You Sane

I make no secret that I struggle with anxiety and depression.

The constant rising feeling of panic I feel in my worst moments.

Combined with the belief that nothing I do will ever make a difference, so why even bother?

Oh ya, these thought patterns are real.

And can I say, they suck.

You might know what I’m talking about.

Not only do my thoughts make me feel horrible, but they also tamper with productivity, make me snap at my kids and overall make me not a nice person to be around.

When they’re at their worst, I rely on a simple system that I set up in my planner.

Is your kid overscheduled? Here’s your fix.
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Is your kid overscheduled? Here’s your fix.

When we started my daughter in piano lessons at 4-years-old, I was excited.

You see, I had always wanted to be able to play piano.

Make no mistake, my parents signed me up for lessons. First through the local parks and rec, then through a private teacher when I got to high school.

I bordered on mediocre – mainly because I never practiced.

In high school, I saw the students who played piano beautifully and secretly envied their skill

They went to summer music camp in Boston, got offered college scholarships – all sorts of recognition. And here I was – too lazy to practice.

When my daughter started piano, I vowed that she wouldn’t be like me.

Your perfect after school checklist (that’s completely editable)
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Your perfect after school checklist (that’s completely editable)

I’ve learned one major thing about picking my kids up after school.

I cannot – by any means – ask them in any sort of cheery voice, “How was your day?”

My nine-year-old daughter recently told me that for some reason that question produces this fiery rage inside of her. She can’t explain it, but it makes her so mad.

I asked my husband about it that night and he said that the question has too many expectations attached to it. If someone really wants to know about your day, they will ask you directly with no fake cheer.

The cheer places too much of a burden on having a happy answer in response and that’s all fake.

OK, I get it.

But then, I realize that the response to anything I ask my kids to do after-school is met with groans and whines.

Why? Are your kids like this too?

How to give your kids criticism (so they’ll actually listen)
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How to give your kids criticism (so they’ll actually listen)

Every time I attend one of my daughter’s dance performances, I see this mom who looks like she’s in a constant state of panic.

She leans forward in the front row watching every step and studying every move.

When the dancers leave the stage, she corners her daughter. I hear her say,

“That was great, but you need to smile more.”
“Next time, kick your leg up a little higher.”

The criticism is all well-meaning.  She’s being nice and I can see that all she wants is for her daughter to improve.

I get that.

Her daughter retorts with an “OK mom, OK” and walks off.