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4 Steps to Take When Your Child Says “I Hate You”

Children can say some pretty hurtful things.

As my kids perused the LEGO aisle in Target one day, I spied on a mom and her little girl.

They were picking out a birthday present and the mom tried to convince her five-year-old daughter to choose a small LEGO friends set.

The daughter agreed, but then… went one step further: she asked for the same set for herself.

“No honey, we’re buying birthday gifts today.”

“BUT WHY??? THAT’S NOT FAIR”

Mom still tried to explain, “Sweetie, its not your birthday. We’re just getting something for your friend.”

“NO. I HATE YOU! YOU’RE THE WORST MOMMY! I DON’T WANT YOU AS MY MOMMY ANYMORE”

Kids Activities | Parenting

5 Grocery Store Games for Kids that will Make Grocery Shopping MUCH EASIER!

If you dread going to the grocery store with your kids because they seem to make grocery shopping 10000x harder, you’re not alone!

Inspiration | Kid Behavior | Parenting

How to get family to help around the house (when they’ve been doing nothing)

Picture this.

You come home to dishes piled on the counter, your child’s clothes hamper overflowing with dirty clothes and the dog staring at you. telepathically trying to tell you she’s hungry.

No one else in your family seems to see it.

Your kids happily walk in after school, throw their stuff on the floor and think that the magical cleaning fairy somehow cleans it up.

Why can’t anyone in your family take the initiative to clean up but you?

I get that. I’ve felt that.

It’s not like you haven’t tried either. You’ve tried the pretty chore charts. You even offered to pay them!

But, nothing’s worked.

You may have been making the same mistake I was…

Kid Behavior | Parenting

How to raise a non-materialistic child when you’re surrounded by stuff

He cried when he opened his present. Actual real tears running down his cheeks.

Nope, not tears of happiness.

To him, Santa betrayed him.

Kids Activities | Parenting | Sponsored

How to Host a Kid’s Birthday Party Guests Will Rave About (Without any DIY)

Me? I am not the Pinterest queen.

I hyperventilate when I see those perfectly prepared birthday party spreads. I think of all the work, the planning, the time and I immediately melt down into a this tinfoil stress ball.

It’s too much.

The good news is that to be a good mom you don’t have to have a DIY birthday party.

Inspiration | Parenting

How to recover from mom burnout (without taking a bubble bath)

You’re sitting on your couch, playing on your smartphone and you just want to be left alone.

There might be a small amount of guilt lurking under the surface. But not much.

Your kids ask, “Can you play this game with me?”

Nope, not right now, you reply.

You’re burned out. Every bit of energy and motivation has left your body. It disintegrated with that last tantrum or vaporized after your tween daughter gave her characteristic shrug when you asked how her day was.

You’re done and frankly, don’t really see a point in this whole parenting thing anymore.

I see you. I’ve been there.

Kid Behavior | Parenting

How to Get Your Family to Listen without Losing your Sh*t

In the corner of my family room sits my daughter’s backpack, dance bag, coat and her backpack from last year that she refuses to throw away.

Oh my goodness. I’ve asked her ten times to clean up this pile.

I feel as if a huge fist is squeezing my stomach. My shoulders knot up.

Deep breath.

Kid Behavior | Parenting

Moms: This is what happens when we constantly apologize

My nine-year-old daughter sighed and stared out the car window at the glow of the street lamps. I could hear the annoyance in her voice.

“I don’t want to talk about it”

Ugh… roadblock. And it had been such a tame conversation.

She told me about how the class had to write a lot that night. Writing during dance class? Totally weird to me. So, I asked her,

“What did you have to write during dance class?”

Bam Total shut down. She clammed up. I had asked one too many questions.

“Ok. That’s fine.” I clenched my jaw. I asked one simple question. Why did she have to treat me like this?

Then, she turned me and said, “I’m sorry.” Not a heartfelt, “I’m sorry.” Rather, the apology dripped with guilt and fear that she had deeply offended me and didn’t want me to be mad at her.

Arizona | Traveling with Kids

How to Survive the Holidays with Kids in Phoenix: 20+ Things to Do

Finally, the weather that you brag about to your midwestern friends is here!

But so is all the stress of the impending holiday season. While that means a ton of opportunities, it can also mean spending a boatload of cash.

Not to fear. Here are some of my favorite family holiday events in Phoenix for 2018.

Kid Behavior | Parenting

How to win at allowance by NOT paying for chores

I stared at the complicated chore chart that my dad placed on our refrigerator.

42 cents for washing dishes. 20 cents for picking up my room.

When he first pitched this idea to my 10-year-old self, I wanted to do all the chores immediately.

This was my chance to earn $5 a week. Yes, I could do this!

So, I did the dishes. It took me 20 minutes and I didn’t even get enough money to buy a can of soda. Wouldn’t it be simpler to pull that red can of Coke out of our fridge?

That week, I completed a few boxes of chores from that monster list, collected my $1.15 and then ignored the list the next week.

Soon, the chore chart disappeared.