Our year of weekly blogging about our life and our book, ZagZig Parenting, went by with little celebration on our part, and as I write this blog, I can’t help but reflect on a blog Kori and I wrote last April. You see, it was about this time last year that that I had my annual “boy’s weekend” and our blog that week was all about it. I recently have returned from my 2018 weekend, and want to share my view, as the at-home parent, from my time away. The basic premise of the we

So, it happened. It was something I had been dreading for some time, and I could not have anticipated more than twelve years ago, when she joined our family, that it would have rocked my world this much. Our first family dog, Koko, passed over the rainbow bridge to dog heaven one week ago today, and I am sad to say the least. More than 12 years ago, we moved to a new state for my job. That meant Number 1 would be starting fifth grade in a new state and leaving her friends th

We all talk about and live through the teenage-to-young adults moments that make us as parents roll our eyes or unleash our tongues – whether it involves a quick mood change that leaves you speechless, talking back that flares the temper or a spontaneous decision that reflects “lack of thought.” If you aren’t at that phase in life yet, brace yourself. Even the sweetest ones will yell back at you and then say they don’t know why they did it. Truly, they don’t. The words are t

There is just no way to sugarcoat this one. It stinks. Any time your child goes through rejection, disappointment or coming in forth place -- when they wanted first – it is heart wrenching. I distinctly remember a situation with Number 1. We had recently moved to a new state, and she was about 5 years old. My husband, Number 1 and I stood in the garage as the older kids, maybe 10 or 11 years old, played basketball across the street. Number 1 ran over to play, and the kids b

March is Women’s History Month, a celebration encouraging the study and honoring the role of women in American history. The 2018 theme by the National Women’s History Project this year is NEVERTHELESS SHE PERSISTED: Honoring Women Who Fight all Forms of Discrimination Against Women. In honor of this month, I’d like to share some lesser-known champions, but heroes nonetheless, from my own life. They have been part of my history as a twenty-five year working professional mom, b