Family

Last summer, my son's teacher, Gillian, had a baby. I'd known Gillian and her husband for five years. From my vantage point -- minivan, overdue library books, early bedtime -- they always looked sweetly inexperienced at being adults. Although our fri...

Last summer, my son's teacher, Gillian, had a baby...

The foggy first weeks of motherhood are full of joy -- and confusion! Omaha pediatrician Laura Jana, M.D., coauthor of Heading Home With Your Newborn, helps you sort it all out. Relax and read on. 1. STUMP SOLUTIONS Cleaning the umbilical-cord site ...

The foggy first weeks of motherhood are full of jo...

When Oliver Winslow's* preschool teacher suggested that something was “off” with him, his parents were ticked. Yes, he had trouble sitting still and focusing, but what 4-year-old boy doesn't? Oliver's teachers and a developmental pediatrician (a spec...

When Oliver Winslow's* preschool teacher suggested...

Does "vacationing" with your baby sound like an oxymoron? As someone who has ventured on road trips, beach getaways, cruises, and more with my two kids, and who is writing a book about family travel -- The Travel Mamas' Guide -- I know that vacations...

Does "vacationing" with your baby sound like an ox...

In the hubbub of life with kids, it's amazing how fragile happiness can seem. One minute everyone is enjoying breakfast together, and the next the orange juice is toppled and the drawing is ruined and nobody wants the pancakes anymore. Blown out of p...

In the hubbub of life with kids, it's amazing how ...

Juggling diaper changes, naps, bathtime, and the occasional tantrum is tricky enough when you're at home. Managing it all while in transit can be, shall we say, a learning experience. As Jennifer Trevitt, Ph.D., an assistant professor of biopsycholog...

Juggling diaper changes, naps, bathtime, and the o...

Many parents find that the awesome miracle of creating a new life, as well as its daunting responsibilities, motivate them to turn to a higher power. For myself, I can't imagine having taken the plunge into parenthood without the comfort of my belief...

Many parents find that the awesome miracle of crea...

Not home? No problem. Your cell will do. Dallas psychologist Ann Dunnewold, Ph.D., author of Even June Cleaver Would Forget the Juice Box, tells how to bond even when you're away: Give a ring. A new University of Wisconsin-Madison study found that, a...

Not home? No problem. Your cell will do. Dallas ps...

It's not easy for parents to lay down the law after divorce. Not only are they emotionally exhausted, they're reluctant to come down too hard on a child who has been through the breakup. Adding to the stress, parents must often navigate their childre...

It's not easy for parents to lay down the law afte...

Q. How can I explain to our 2-year-old that his dad and I are getting divorced? A. Better to err on the side of saying too little than too much right now. A toddler is interested mainly in how his world will be affected by changes going on in his fam...

Q. How can I explain to our 2-year-old that his da...

More than 1 million children each year experience the divorce of their parents. And while you might think that babies would have an easier adjustment than older children, infants are often deeply affected by their parents' stress. If you're facing th...

More than 1 million children each year experience ...

Bouncing back from a divorce can be just as hard for kids as it is for adults. According to a recent study at Ohio State University-Mansfield, a marriage that's breaking up harms children's self-esteem and academic performance even before the split o...

Bouncing back from a divorce can be just as hard f...

Travel off-season. Think cities in winter and ski or Caribbean destinations in spring. Book flights early -- or late. When an airline's limited number of low-price seats sell out, fares jump. But if you can leave on a few days' notice, you may be abl...

Travel off-season. Think cities in winter and ski ...

Where we went: To Austin, TX, with my husband to visit family. Nora was 18 months old. What I was worried about: Since Nora gets restless after sitting in a car for two hours, I was anxious about how she'd handle flying. (The trip took five hours tot...

Where we went: To Austin, TX, with my husband to v...

"My family doesn't have enough time together," writes Jennifere Borjeson, mother of Cassidy, 3, and Trevor, 5, from Worcester, MA. "The only day off that my husband and I share is Sunday. But there's usually an event to attend, cleaning to be done, o...

"My family doesn't have enough time together," wri...

Q As a divorced dad who sees his two kids only two weekends a month, I don't want to waste time disciplining, but I don't want them to think I'm just a playmate. How can I be their father too? A Your time with your kids is precious, but spending part...

Q As a divorced dad who sees his two kids only two...

Q. My husband wants another baby, but I'm happy with the two kids we have. How can we stop fighting? I'm sure you both don't plan on fighting before it happens, but if you want to get a handle on such a sensitive subject, you're going to have to plan...

Q. My husband wants another baby, but I'm happy wi...

Once your kids are past building sand castles and ordering from the children's menu, it's tough to get them excited about spending a week or so away from their friends. Lure them back to the fold with these strategies from Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, edi...

Once your kids are past building sand castles and ...

"Nobody told me that I would try to make up an excuse to 'stop by' Grandma's for a visit between dinner and the movie." -Lacey Goulet, Orlando, FL "When you go out on your first date post-baby you will have spit up on your shirt, you will call the ba...

"Nobody told me that I would try to make up an exc...

Q As a divorced dad who sees his two kids only two weekends a month, I don't want to waste time disciplining, but I don't want them to think I'm just a playmate. How can I be their father too? A Your time with your kids is precious, but spending part...

Q As a divorced dad who sees his two kids only two...

1. Play video games That's right: They're good for something. Wendy Hart Beckman of Cincinnati found that the best way to actually have a conversation with any of her three sons was to do it while they were playing a video game together. The bonding ...

1. Play video games That's right: They're good for...