Tips + Tricks

Sometimes I miss the days when my kids were more enamored with the empty cardboard box than the toy itself. I always joked it would make gift-giving easier, just to witness their pure joy playing with a box.  I've watched...

Two of my kids responded to time-outs and consequences and generally listened to what they were asked to do. Then I had a "tricky fellow." Nothing worked with him. He was exhausting, constantly yelled "no,"  screamed, threw stuff, and generally made...

It's a familiar scene to many parents: you finally get your kiddo into bed only for them to come out, over and over again. Or, it's the middle of the night and you find a kid (or 2) in...

Adoption. The word itself brings up feelings for many people and the range of impact is far and wide. It carries many opinions, perspectives, and experiences. November is National Adoption Awareness Month and it is a time to celebrate...

Every summer, my family takes a couple trips to different lakes around Minnesota, North Dakota, or South Dakota.  It seems like with each trip we seek out the same things to make everything enjoyable and memorable for all. Beyond our usual...

The weather is warm and the sun is shining. What are you going to do with the kids today? Go to Detroit Lakes! A fun day waiting for you, just a short (less than one hour!) drive away. When you think of...

Over the past 35 years, my family has enjoyed countless summer weekends spent in Bemidji, MN. We have gotten to know the area well and in my opinion, it's a hidden gem in northern Minnesota. It’s far enough away...

As mothers, we often find ourselves living day-to-day, focusing on the immediate needs of our children. We wake up, get dressed, eat breakfast, brush teeth, try to be on time for our commitments, and more. We're busy! And the most common...

January 1st hits and BAM, you decide you are on the road to a new beginning, a new way of life, and new health goals. But where do you begin?  Do you pick an exercise to start doing every...

If there is one character trait parents want to teach their child in 2020, it would be resiliency. It seems a better time than ever to encourage resiliency in our kids. Resilience is the ability to achieve positive outcomes -...