Focusing on your kids' schooling and future is important, but it's easy to lose sight of the little things and moments along the way that are also important. Failing to nurture their unique skills and interests may cost them the chance to do something that they feel is fulfilling and rewarding and what they deem to be the success of their own lives. Also, pushing them too hard to be successful may be counterproductive and drive them into burnout, which takes years to recover from. Plus, we've s…

If you suddenly showed up at your sibling's home and asked to live with them for 10 months, it would make things awkward, that's for certain. You can't just ask someone to live with them for that long without having a big discussion about what it would mean for you both. And this woman isn't just asking her brother to stay there alone… she wants to bring her entire family , including her two young children. While we always want to be there for the family members we adore, living with someone is…

Going to the movie theater is all fun and games until you remember you have to deal with the general populace while there. For many people, having a night at the movies is the perfect way to view the newest blockbuster. There's nothing like the feeling of entering the theater and smelling that strong popcorn scent. You get your tickets and snacks , then make your way to your seat to watch a bunch of trailers. (Some people don't like watching trailers, but I think it's a good way to get your mon…

Learning boundaries is important, even if it means being disappointed—not everything is always going to go your way. Sure, when you're one year old, something you were interested in suddenly disappearing might be the worst thing that's ever happened to you, but it's important to learn that lesson now because once you're older, learning that same lesson gets a lot more inappropriate and embarrassing. There's a big difference between a 12-year-old throwing a public tantrum because they didn't get…

Meals are undoubtedly one of the most important daily chores, along with sleep. Being properly fed is one of the things that everything else in a successful and happy life stems from. But providing healthy meals for your family isn't cheap… Have you seen the price of groceries these days? And the time it takes to cook and clean for an entire family can't be understated. So, undoubtedly, the combination of those two things, the time and the price of the actual food, would be supremely valuable.…

This kind of boss is just the worst, as this flustered nanny can tell you. Up next, this non-HOA homeowner is refusing to take down their holiday lights, and told the HOA member to “just get off my property… I've just had enough.”

We're often taught that you have an obligation to love your family and that “blood is thicker than water” and all of that

Doing favors for people generally would be met with some sort of reciprocation or thanks, and you would generally expect to be compensated for any of your own resources you might spend helping them. Say, something like paying someone for gas when they've given you a ride or picked you up from the airport. It's not an equal transaction because you're not compensating them for their time or for the service they've provided you, but you're at least saving them from bearing the most direct financia…

Let's face it: a lot of us were miserable about stuff when we were kids and teenagers that we would later go on to regret. Even if you have the most positive home environment, it's a confusing and difficult time in your development. Even still, I know there were times when I caused a stink about something only to go on to have the best day, leaving me with lifelong regret for making it difficult for my parents in the first place. But, when you're a teen , there's a high likelihood that you're g…

It's one thing to have a messy house , but these people have taken their messiness to the next level. Sometimes, the best way to clean up your home is by inviting someone over. It immediately makes you consider your home from an outsider's perspective. You start to think about what your guests might notice, like crumbs on the table or a streaky mirror. They say you should clean surfaces first, then the bathroom, then the floors, and by that point, you have a pretty clean home to invite your gue…

Enforcing “no children” policies at weddings can be treacherous territory, on one hand you want to manifest the ideal you've bee

Some people grow up in big houses with a front and back yard, and a lot of space. Other people, mostly due to location and not necessarily because of money, grow up in an apartment, with a few rooms, maybe a balcony, and a lot of neighbors. In my family, one of our favorite discussions is which one is better when it comes to having neighbors. For some reason, having neighbors in an apartment building is not as annoying as neighbors who live in a house next to yours. We can't explain it, but the…

Doing chores and contributing to the household is just a part of being a member of the household, especially as you get older. The harsh reality is that when you're a teenager, soon the gloves are going to come off, and you're going to be faced with the harsh reality that surviving day to day as an adult requires 10x as much effort just to maintain functional normality as you anticipate when you're a kid at home. Plus, your parents are doing these things daily just to keep the family (what ofte…

There's a whole lot going on in this post that's really difficult to un- pack (hah, get it) and that I really just can't quite wrap my head around. So, let's start here: Why on earth does a 13-year-old need FIFTY backpacks? With a single bag alone costing $500. And why in the heck does a 13-year-old have their own influencer account?.. And where in the heck are they storing all of these backpacks? At the risk of sounding very “old man yelling at clouds here,”… what in the heck is going on with…

Everyone likes to think that they're the exception to a rule, usually because they're so certain that they're so much better and smarter than everybody. The reality of the situation couldn't be further from the truth, and the truth is this: If you think you're the exception, the rule exists for you. This couldn't be truer than when it comes to parents who think that their kids should be an exception to “child-free” events, either bringing them anyway without saying anything or making some drama…

This situation sounds like every kid's dream and every neighbor's worst nightmare. If you spent ages begging your parents for a pool or a trampoline as a kid, you're not alone. It's a common experience for kids who want to get their energy out and spend countless hours swimming or bouncing with their friends. Of course, as a kid you probably aren't aware of what the neighbors think about you bouncing on a trampoline for hours every day, or splashing around loudly in a pool doing cannonballs wit…