It’s school time again. I find that among the moms I talk to there are two sharply contrasting reactions to the start of the school year: glee and sadness. And frankly I think many moms, whether they’re anticipating sending the kids off to school or dreading it, feel a mixture of both. If you’re sad…
Planning
Guest Post: The Secret to Dreams Come True
Today I have invited Marci Nault of 101DreamsComeTrue to share her thoughts about the power of writing down your dreams. In only 5 years, Marci has accomplished 90 out of her list of 101 dreams for her life (including seeing her first novel, The Lake House, published by Simon & Schuster this year). Pretty impressive,…
Krupicka Family Summer 2013 Bucket List
My kids have their own bucket lists. I keep a bucket list. And our family is compiling a shared bucket list. But although every summer my kids create lists of goals and challenges for themselves that they check off, we have never kept a separate family “summer bucket list.” Until now. After seeing other lists…
What’s on Your List This Summer?
Build a sandcastle. Make s’mores. Run a lemonade stand. There are so many quintessential summer experiences that we want our kids to have. But in the rush of activities or the drone of the ordinary, we can forget about them. Or we do some of them by rote, not recognizing how we’re making memories for…
The Secret to Fewer Regrets
Parenting requires so many decisions, it can sometimes become mind-numbing. How to respond to discipline issues, what to do about kids’ friendship struggles, which sports to encourage them toward and what other activities to enroll them in. We have so much information and so many opportunities at our fingertips, it can be hard to sort…
Staying Organized as a Mom
“I’m sorry, but we can’t groom your dog today,” the technician said as I reached to hand her my schnoodle’s leash. “Why not?” I replied. “I have an appointment.” She tapped a few more keys on her computer before answering. “It says here that your dog was due for rabies shots last month. But his…
3 Strategies For Planning Family Adventures
Outside it’s a winter wonderland of frost-gilded trees and snow-blanketed yards. But while my kids are making plans for sledding after school, I’m making plans for spring break. I’m ready for some family adventures and I want to map an outline of them before that week arrives. Often we spend our break at home, with…
All In
This month I’m making a leap. I’m stepping off the edge. I’m diving into a new venture (or adventure). This month also marks the start of a year in which I’ve decided I’m going to stop holding back. I want to be all in. The new venture is a series for parents at my church….
Celebrating Amidst Imperfection
A symmetrical evergreen bedecked with ribbon garland, white lights, and glass ornaments sits in the front window giving off a subtle pine scent. The soft sounds of carols play throughout the house, mixed with the crackles and pops coming from the glowing embers in the fireplace – the perfect counter to gently falling snow outside….
A New School Year & The Dreaded “H” Word
Yesterday my children started school. And they arrived home with homework… for me. I always forget this is coming. So many forms for me to complete, even after all we filled out already at registration. There’s the personal inventory of my child’s personality and academic/social strengths and weaknesses (which I keep swearing I’ll photocopy to…