I had to hound my teen daughter to take a shower or simply change her clothes. I thought she was acting lazy. But when her therapist admitted her to the hospital for suicide risk, I learned that personal hygiene had been too much to ask. All of her energy went...
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many parents and tweens did not have a normal transition into middle school during 2020 and 2021. So, this fall maybe your child’s first real, in-person middle school experience, and that can feel overwhelming for both of you. As your...
Austin, as we all know and love, has an energy and spirit different from anywhere else in the world. Here are some one-of-a-kind ways to get out and celebrate awesome Austin – from A to Z – in the summer days ahead! Arcades Bring your Pac-Man and Skee-ball...
My children love to collect everything from rocks to stickers. They bring my kids joy and entertainment, but they also seem to take up space and collect dust. I must admit that I have wondered: are there benefits to encouraging kids to collect items? While these...
When your electronic gadgets break, does your tween fix them? Do you have a child that builds elaborate housing for pets and dolls out of scraps of craft materials and cardboard boxes? Maybe you’re raising entrepreneurial teens with ideas that could make them the next...
Austin Family is celebrating its 30th birthday! Looking back, I wondered what experiences our kids are having as they grow up in Austin that their parents or grandparents had. What things have changed? To find out, I asked three generations of native Austinites....
Kent Cummins, a camp director, was on the phone with the mother of a prospective camper. She desperately wanted her daughter to attend his summer day camp. Yet, she was finding that in most cases, camps would not admit her daughter. Up to that point, he had never...
I still walk to the bus stop with my ninth grade twins. Before you assume that I’m a helicopter, snowplow, lawnmower or some other type of machinery parent, please let me explain. When my kids were younger, I admit that I used to go to the bus stop with them...
If you have ever experienced a random act of kindness, you know the profound joy even the simplest act can produce. There’s a surprise and level of connection that can shake you out of the rhythm of routine and leave a lasting impact. This year, encourage your family...
According to the Small Business Administration, there are over 30 million small businesses in America, and about half of all American workers either work for a small business or own one. More important than these numbers, however, are the people behind them....
My first introduction to the world of politics came in first grade when talk on the playground suddenly shifted from debating four-square rules or who could run the fastest to, “Who are your parents voting for – Jimmy Carter or Ronald Reagan?” What stuck with me...
If you’re looking to safely venture beyond your backyard and soak up the cooler weather, try these places. These nature walks and hike and bike trails pack in a healthy dose of art, adventure and exercise – good for the whole family! Laguna Gloria 3809 W. 35th St....
