A few Teen Commandments about what we should provide for our kids: "Take me shopping." "Thou shall give me what I want." "Thou shalt spoil me rotten." "Thou shalt leave everything to your kids when you die." "Thou shalt shower thy youth in riches." These are the same teens who wisely ask parents to set rules and enforce them, provide discipline, hold them accountable, and be role models. However, when these same kids start thinking about money, different things come out of their mouths. Suddenly they sound like shallow, petulant brats. More >>

We all hear and do too much complaining about our circumstances and how we MUST compromise our values and the well-being of our families in order to survive.  Truthfully?  That's rarely true, if at all.  But it requires a commitment to a goal and a commitment to family that will not be compromised.  That means another way HAS to be found. I've recently gotten "hot and heavy" into polymer clay work.  I love it. More >>

Cranberry up your Thanksgiving meal by trying some of these tasty and simple ideas... More >>

Many of you in two-income families don't have to be living on two incomes - you are choosing to do so. According to the New York-based Families and Work Institute, 79% of today's married couples have both people in the workforce.  In 1977, that percentage was 66%. There are problems with two-income marriages and families: More >>

This morning as I was returning from walking my dog at the dog park, I noticed a beautiful black Labrador in the parking lot of the Clubhouse in my community. I stopped to see if there was anybody with the dog. Nobody was around. I pulled in, got out of the car, and the dog ran to me and practically jumped into my arms. I let my own dog out of the car, and the two played. We waited a while in the hopes somebody would come looking for a dog. No one came. I invited the dog into my car, she jumped in, happy as could be. More >>

To tempt or not to tempt....that is the question.  Whether 'tis nobler to seduce already or ready-to-be overweight children with pop toys to get them to eat more fat and salt than a horse would tolerate OR find a way to combine good business sense and family-friendly nutrition? Apparently, McDonald's would rather just seduce your kids - it makes good profits. Well, that could no longer be the case in San Francisco. More >>

Sometimes when I come home from work there are dishes in the sink, toys on the floor and abandoned pillow forts in the living room. I usually walk into the dining room to my daughter's paintings drying on the counter and evidence of my son's Tupperware rampage throughout the kitchen. If I start to feel frustrated all I have to do is listen for the giggles and squeals of delight that fill the house. More >>

When I first heard this story, I had to think about it for a bit: A one-time high school cheerleader who was sexually assaulted - raped - by two star athletes was kicked off her cheerleading squad for refusing to cheer for her attacker.   They were all at a party, drinking.  The two star athletes took her into a room alone and locked the door; they fondled and then raped her.  More >>

We often hear the difficulties parents have with raising teens.  In today's video, I heard the story from the point of view of a 13 year old who thinks her mother is being unreasonable: More >>

Cooking can be easy, nutritious, inexpensive, fun - and fast - as these menus of split-second family-friendly sensations prove. They take just  10 seconds each to read and are almost that quick to prepare . The meals are delicious proof that everyone has time for tasty home cooking and, more importantly, the healthy family time around the kitchen table that goes along with it! More >>