As parents, we all want to prepare our children to enter the world. The question is how to best do this. Is it by filling their days with structure, sports and lessons? Or is there another way? I believe there is: open-ended play. While structure, sports and lessons do have value, without open-ended play, […]
It’s wonderful to have all the resources of Chicago so close to the North Shore, and the CTA and Metra make it easy to enjoy all the city has to offer. For parents, though, these assets can pose some questions. Is my child old enough to go downtown alone? Is it safe for children […]
It’s summer and our children want more freedom, yet we want them to be safe. What’s a parent to do? Thanks to our media-saturated society, we are well aware of dangers that lurk outside the protective walls of our homes. It can be terrifying to let your child loose in this scary world, but […]
Try these for an unusual and healthy snack. They are quick to make and my 8 taste testers devoured them. Makes 2 cups 3 tablespoons olive oil 2 cups well-drained chickpeas (cooked or canned) 2 tablespoons minced garlic Salt and pepper to taste Optional seasonings: Chili powder Garlic powder Onion power Chinese 5 spice seasoning […]
Risotto made with Arborio rice is wonderful, but for a change, try making your next risotto with barley. It creates the same creamy sauce, but has a slightly different texture and taste. Serves 4 6 cups chicken stock ¾ cup dry white wine 1 red bell pepper, sliced 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided 1 small […]
It will make your life easier! It’s tough to be in middle school: too young to do everything you want to do, yet feeling too old for the things you used to do. It’s the perfect age to start developing some real adult-level life skills. Not only are these worthwhile things to know, but […]
It will make your life easier! The high school years go by too fast. As I anticipate sending my oldest child off to college in the fall, I worry that I haven’t taught her everything she needs to know. Have I done everything I should have to prepare her? While I’m sure there are […]
It will make your life easier! A child’s education is very important to most parents. But it is easy to become too focused on academics and forget that there is another set of skills our children need to become functioning adults: life skills. These would include anything from knowing how to create a pleasant […]
It was hot and humid in the van careening through the mass of motor scooters, which make up the bulk of Saigon’s traffic. We were headed for the orphanage where we would be meeting our son for the first time. A variety of feelings competed for space in my mind. Excitement—we had waited 18 […]
Chicago is home to a wide variety of ethnic neighborhoods and touring them can be a wonderful introduction to other cultures and other foods. Tet, the huge Vietnamese celebration of the lunar New Year, is coming up on February 3. Why don’t you use that as an excuse to explore Argyle Street and introduce […]
