Tried and True Tips for the Transition to Middle School
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...
Awesome Austin: A to Z Ideas for Summertime Fun
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...
6 Things Kids Learn From Collections
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...
Maker-Minded: Raising DIY Kids
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...
30 Years of Parenting In Austin
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....
Inclusivity in Summer Camps Can Add to Camp Experience for All
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...
Teen Talk-The Secret to Better Parent-Teen Bonding
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...
41 Ways To Spread Cheer In The New Year
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...
How To Show Support for Small Businesses This Holiday Season
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....
How Do You Make Big Change? Start Local, Start Little
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 was...
Hike, Bike and Trike Austin: Best Trails for All Ages
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....
Caring for Older Parents
Expert Caregiving Tips for Busy Parents Have you heard of the “sandwich generation”? If you’re an adult with young children who also provides care for an aging parent, you have found yourself smack dab in the middle of two warm, doughy slices of caring, generationally...
