No matter how many children you have, sending them off to their first day of kindergarten is a big deal! It’s the first day of many years to come in the education system. Once you’ve been through the system for a while it probably seems crystal clear, but with child number one you’re left with a lot of questions. 

We’ve all heard of the phrase “mom guilt,” but the phenomenon is not just affecting women. Parent guilt is running rampant in this information age because now, more than ever before in human history we can see how other people are raising their families. Social media has the power to connect us with people all over the world, and unfortunately, we tend to use it as a tool for comparison. 

As children, we grow up with our parents on a pedestal. It isn't until we grow up and become adults and then parents ourselves that we realize that our parents were just regular people who were doing the best they could. One of the big lessons we can teach our children is to admit when we’re wrong and make amends when we’ve hurt someone. And the most powerful way to instill this lesson is to exhibit the behavior you’re hoping to instill. 

The last quarter of the year is jam-packed full of holidays and fun, seasonal activities. It’s a cozy and exciting time of year, but with all of the excitement of the season, it is easy to fall off the rails. After all of the work that you put in setting up routines and structure for your family, it’s a shame to see that effort sidelined while you’re on the home stretch. 

When you conjure up a list of characteristics that you hope to instill in your children, it’s likely that responsibility is one of them. Responsibility is a trait that needs to be developed in people over time, and those who have it are more likely to succeed in the future. When your children have the skill of responsibility they’re more likely to succeed in college, in their future careers, and in their personal lives. Is there anything better than that? 

Self-care is all the rage these days. The phrase is self-explanatory, but sometimes the culture surrounding it can be a little more than misleading. Here are a few parenting tips on how to (or how not to) care for yourself so that you can be the best parent and raise happy and healthy kids.

Some children come by surprise, others are hoped and prayed for many months and years in advance, but all are blessings. As a parent, you probably feel so fortunate to have your children that it feels ungrateful to admit that they sometimes drive you crazy. Parenting is not for the weak, and if you’re not careful it can drain your energy and leave you feeling tired, anxious, and even depressed. 

It’s virtually impossible to hide from the enormous amount of input that is coming into our lives and into our minds at any given moment these days. No longer is news and entertainment forced to live inside your television or radio, but now it streams directly to you in your pocket. As parents, you do your best to stay up to date on all the right parenting tips and trends to ensure that you’re giving your children the best life possible, but how do you know who to listen to? And how can you make it through without giving in to the stress?

Your children are out of school and will be for a few more weeks at least. For many families, this is a precious time to travel and make memories. Is your family getting the most out of your summer vacation? It’s important to note that summer vacation doesn’t have to require five-figure international trips.

Water, water, water! It’s hot as can be here in Florida, and there is no better way to keep your kids cool and active than to find fun new ways to play in the water. Some families have it easy with a swimming pool right in their own backyards, but others of us have to get a little more creative to find ways to keep our kids cooled off. Whether you’re entertaining your kids at home, or sending them to summer day camps, you’ll want to check out these summer parenting tips for three easy way to keep your kids cool this summer.