Setting the stage for musical success 2013-08-30 Author: Heather Lee Leap  Your child wants to play an instrument, you want him to practice, but making it work is not always easy. Some parents don’t make their kids practice, afraid that pushing them will make...

Q&A with baseball’s Ruth Ryan 2013-08-30 Author: Melanie Dunham The Ryan family is known throughout the sports community as baseball royalty, from Nolan's career with the Rangers to Reid's new position at the helm of the Astros. Now meet Ruth Ryan, matriarch of...

Wake-up call 2013-08-30 Author: Marta Katalenas, M.D.  I can’t count with my fingers how many times this month I ordered a blood test to check for anemia after parents complained about the fatigue they observe in their school-age children. Often the test comes...

Back in the saddle 2013-07-29 Author: Malia Jacobson Before kids, Lorraine Wilde had a great job managing supplies for a chemistry lab in a vibrant college town. It was the kind of job she’d trained for when she earned her master’s ashe thought she’d have forever. But...

Go to the head of the class 2013-07-29 Author: Laura AmannLike this article? Link to it here. It’s that time of year again – the school bell is ringing and the kids are off! Each fall thousands of kids begin a new school year full of hope and high expectations, but...

Q&A with Rhonda Paver, Founder Stepping Stone Schools 2013-07-29 Author: Melanie Dunham  Stepping Stone School has been a fixture in the Austin area for over 30 years, and this month Austin Family is taking a look at how a community favorite got it’s start....

Baker’s dozen 2013-06-27 Author: By Susan Brink  Pregnant women have long pitied the poor elephant with her nearly two-year gestation period. After nine months, there’s hardly a mother alive who isn’t ready to leave pregnancy behind and get on with labor,...

Paging Dr. Dirt: 2013-06-27 Author: Ashley Talmadge Kids love mud - it’s just a fact. Whether it’s the batter for fresh muffins or the building material for mini dams and roadways, or perhaps just the satisfying squish between toes during a hike through a streambed, a...

Make room for Daddy 2013-05-29 Author: Heidi Smith Luedtke, Ph.D.  Pop culture doesn’t appreciate dads. Sitcoms make fun of their diapering (in)abilities or portray dads as irresponsible babysitters who feed the kids pizza, ice cream and sugary soda while mom is...

The ABCs of Summer Vacation 2013-05-29 Author: Heather Van Deest   Family Vacations are the perfect time to make lasting memories, but traveling with the whole clan often has its challenges. To up the enjoyment factor, consider these 26 ways to make your next...

All in the family 2013-04-30 Author: Deanne Haines  Immediately upon walking out of the church on my wedding day my mother-in-law burst into tears. While she claimed they were “tears of joy,” I know it was very hard for her to hand over her son to another woman....

5 Habits every mom should break 2013-04-30 Author: Stephanie Vozza  As moms, we tend to put a lot on our plates. In fact, it’s one of the reasons we often feel overwhelmed. Instead of trying to take one more bite of responsibility, here are five habits every mom...