Play dates are a great way for children and parents to spend time together socializing in a non-structured environment. But, what about a play date with a more meaningful purpose? That was the question Glenview mom Edwina Cowell asked herself when her oldest son (now a teenager) participated in a weekly play date with a […]
“I love you Emma, and I’ll miss you when you go to college,” I tell my youngest child, holding out her crumpled coat, festering soccer socks and encrusted fruit smoothie glass from the night before, “but I am not going to miss your mess.” Emma smiles and breezes past me, tossing her dark hair over […]
My son is about to leave for his fourth summer at overnight camp. His first year, I was obsessed with making sure he was okay. My phone displayed his local weather and I ran to the mailbox daily, then eagerly scoured the camp photos posted each night. I was Sherlock Holmes, determined to find clues […]
Kathy Hardy, Winnetka Community Nursery School Director, says she has always regretted not “buying” her daughter, now 27, an extra year of preschool. “As parents you can’t help but want the leg up for your child,” Hardy says. Hardy is referring to academic redshirting, the practice of intentionally holding your child out an extra year […]
There are kids’ restaurants (hello, Rainforest Cafe) and adults’ restaurants (yes, Alinea) and then there’s the sweet spot—places that welcome children while also serving food that adults love. We’ve assembled a list of restaurants that fit the bill with inventive kids’ menus and friendly service. Mealtimes are all about connecting with each other and that’s […]
Over 6 million women in the U.S. today struggle with fertility challenges. Yet, despite this vast number, so many suffer alone. Katie O’Connor knows firsthand what they’re going through, and she is working hard to end the isolation. O’Connor founded Shine: A Light on Fertility, a national nonprofit organization whose mission is “to create a community, […]
The spotlight is on romantic relationships as Valentine’s Day approaches. Knowing how to express affection in just the right way is challenging for adults, and it is even harder to know how to handle your children’s romantic feelings. We asked the experts for their advice on how parents can best handle a few common romantic […]
The question “How do your parents support organizations or causes?” was posed to children ages 17 and under in a 2010 survey by The Mint. Nearly 65 percent of the participants answered, “I don’t know.” Don’t let your children fall into that 65 percent. With the holidays and New Year approaching, you will be spending […]
Your child gets smacked by a kid in the sandbox and you watch in dismay as their parent does nothing. If your first instinct is to discipline the kid, take a deep breath, cowboy, and think before you shoot from the hip. Discipline means different things to different people, and your method might be unacceptable […]
According to the American Pregnancy Association, “Nesting during pregnancy is the overwhelming desire to get your home ready for your new baby,” and it’s a common instinct that occurs during the third trimester. Whether you experience the nesting urge or not, you’ll want to get as organized as possible while you anticipate the arrival of […]
