Parenting seems to be all about the juggle.Regarding balancing her work career with raising kids, best-selling author Nora Roberts once said, “It’s too damn hard to keep everything in the air, and that’s a pressure we don’t need to put on ourselves. And if you drop a plastic ball, it bounces, no harm done. If… Read more »

I never take anything for granted. It’s a lesson learned from life in general but parenting specifically.A case in point would be the first day of school this week. In some ways, I have been dreading this day for Carson, 11. When his routine and schedule gets rocked, his anxiety runs high, resulting in severe… Read more »

The last couple weeks have confirmed for me it’s time for the kids to get back in school.When neither kid has the desire, energy or enthusiasm for the beach, pool, Boardwalk, amusement parks or water parks on a summer weekend day, I think the summer doldrums have set in. They need to get back in… Read more »

(Editor’s Note: The following column is being reprinted from August of 2009, as the writer is on vacation this week.)Approaching the 15-month-old mark in a few days, Beckett seems to have found the joy in being alone. That’s how it seems at least with a new hobby he has developed.One of his favorite new objects… Read more »

The word “sleepover” makes me cringe whenever the request is made.For one thing, the term is a misnomer. A more accurate word would be “stayover” because just about everything happens except for sleep.I dread these stayovers. I want my son to have fun with his friends. It’s important, but I wish these hangout sessions did… Read more »

When it comes to teenage kids, the expression goes, “you don’t have to always like them, but you always love them.”The phrase hits home as the journey of raising a young teen plays out around our house.As a matter of disclosure, I both love and like my 13-year-old son Beckett. He’s wonderful and has many… Read more »

Pardon the proud parent moment, but I am incredibly impressed with Carson completing his school’s five-week summer academy.Back in the spring, we debated whether Carson would enroll until the last minute. When the deadline came, we decided to go ahead and sign him up. All the while Pam and I were of the mindset he… Read more »

It’s amazing to me what excites my kids and what doesn’t.I was thinking about this on the beach last weekend. We drove to Assateague, passing horses at every turn and some of the best vistas found anywhere. At one point, I had to insist Carson pull his head out of his book and Beckett put… Read more »

For several years, my kids were blessed to have many grandparents – seven to be exact.Due to our biological parents getting divorced while Pam and I were both young and remarrying, my kids had several years with many grandparents. It was a good thing. It also makes our family tree unique with many branches.With Pam’s… Read more »