Gen X then and now: parental involvement in the schools
Gen X then and now is a weekly series each Monday on Taffeta.com. Read more here. Then: Got notification in the mail where my bus stop would be. I busted …
Read MoreTag: parenting
Can we finally get rid of standardized testing?
Schools are starting back up, and parents are worrying about everything we normally worry about in this day and age—homework, eating, sleeping, study help, school shootings, and their health. Here …
Read More
The kids shows I miss now that my children are too old for them
I know it’s more fun to talk about the shows we HATED when the kids were little. Barney is a given, Dora the Explorer is a close second (why is …
Read More
Lazy-Boy (and Girl): How to Get Your Teens off the Couch
Taffeta put it out there: “Does anyone want to write an article about how to get your kids off the couch.” I said, “NOOOPPPEEEE, hard pass,” because literally everything I …
Read More
I Can (ex)Change
If you follow my articles closely, you might notice I sometimes refer to my “kids” and other times refer to my “kid.” So, full disclosure: I have one full-blood daughter. …
Read More
The Parents in My Facebook Group Are Driving Me Crazy
My town has a lot of Facebook groups. There’s one for the moms, one for the dads, and one for parents who don’t want to be gender specific. There’s one …
Read More
Dealing with Being Shut Down by a Teenager
My 13-year-old has given up on me. I pride myself on being the parent who listens and connects, but she shut me down, and it stings. All of you parents …
Read More
How My Mom’s Absence Made Me a Better Mother
It’s nearly Mother’s Day, and like most dutiful daughters, I’ll make my way to the card section at the neighborhood grocery store and search for a greeting card for my …
Read More
Teens and Driving: Why Driving School is the Way to Go
For the majority of teens, getting a driver’s license is an exciting rite of passage that means freedom, autonomy, and a big step toward adulthood. For parents, it can also …
Read More
Family Mealtimes, Still the Strongest Link
With so many of us working and learning from home, the “nuclear family” has the renewed possibility to spend time together, including at mealtimes. Here are some thoughts on harnessing …
Read More
What to Expect When You’re Expecting a Teen
It’s amazing when you are pregnant that there are books, magazines, and websites — not to mention any person you come in contact with when you are sporting a baby …
Read More
Watching Parenthood with My 13-Year-Old
“Hey Mommy,” my 13-year-old says. “Want to watch another episode of Parenthood with me?” Of course I do! I stop what I’m doing and settle in next to her on …
Read More
Can Anyone Tell Me How to Get My 13-Year-Old to Clean Up?
Here’s just a small smattering of the little treats I find around the house on a daily basis: • A plate containing half a pancake. Precisely half a pancake, carefully …
Read More
How I Realized I’ve Been Standing in My Grown Children’s Way
The Mysteries Only Mom Can Solve The oldest of my three children just had his last first day of school. Along with the obligatory pictures, I couldn’t help feeling a …
Read More
Outdoor Activities for Older Kids
Getting preteens and teens outside doesn’t have to be like pulling teeth. When you have a plan, a fun set up and perhaps a few of their friends, your older …
Read More