Big Kids

Can you believe that summer is over and the kids are back in school already? You may have had this "conversation" a dozen times by now: How was school? Good/fine/whatever. We’re all happy to hear that school was “good.”...

Erin Stremcha took a personal gift to her son and decided to share it with the world. Allow me to introduce you to her new book, Power Up. Erin wrote a book for her son, meant to speak truth and...

I am not sure if any part of culture impacts my little girls like Valentine's Day.  Well, all that Valentine's Day represents--from film to TV to songs and cupid. It romanticizes love into solely an emotional (and usually shallow)...

One of my favorite things about living in Scottsdale is all of the local and accessible hiking trails. I love hiking and I want my children to love hiking too. Bringing children along can sometimes sound intimidating, so here...

Want to lead, love, and launch your kids? Yes, please. In 2014, Keith and Amy Carney, set out on an epic journey to parent on purpose. With a set of triplet boys and a daughter not far behind, life...

When we’re in the trenches of parenting our kids, it’s often easy to find ourselves “losing it.” I know you know what I mean when I say that. On many days we feel like we lose our patience, or...

Celebrating our teachers is important for kids and their families. May 4 -8 is the week when children have the opportunity to show how much they love their teacher.  How do we do that? For teacher appreciation week, why not decorate your...

Do you have a child who could use a little extra help in math? As a parent of 3 children, I have found that each of my kids has a very different learning style. One of my kids has...

In our family we have three weeks of back to school. Three. First, my third grader goes back. Then, my 11th grader. Then, my college student. (Did I just type that?) If I am only 32 years old (in...

My kids love to do things “all by themselves” and this includes putting their DVD movies in and out of the player. Thus it is no surprise to anyone that we have quite a few movies with scratches, some...

The one thing I look forward to each year as summer break approaches is having an abundance of time. During the school year, we are so constrained by our over-scheduled world. Out of the house by 7 a.m., errands,...

We’ve all seen them. We’ve definitely all heard them. Perhaps on occasion we’ve even been one. I’m talking about the loud and obnoxious “Sports Parent.” On the mild end of the behavior spectrum, they’re the ones loud-talking in the stands...

Why I’m Proud of my Child’s D As my husband and I were sitting at an appointment, I received the alert announcing “report cards are now available.”  I immediately turned to him and said, “should I even look?” His (pragmatic...

Remember Riverdance? The energetic music, the long rows of dancers moving with such precision, the graceful soloists? Admit it, you (like me) danced around trying to figure out the moves in your family room after seeing the show on...

When the summer heat has you stuck indoors, but your own house is getting a bit too small (and messy!) pack up the kids and try out these great indoor spaces for big and small. The kids get all...

As a middle school teacher, I see my share of goofy and/or dangerous trends. Kids have needlessly planked across desks, swallowed spoonfuls of cinnamon, and spontaneously burst into Fortnight dances in the middle of class. The most current trend...

Perform To Learn Academy has been an award winning program in Arizona for over 6 years. P2L has now ventured into elementary school education with our play-based, performing arts program. The P2L philosophy allows learning through exploration, supporting independence and...

It's that time of year again. . . Just a few more weeks of school. Vacations are in the making. Kids are wondering what to do this summer. Mom is thinking about how to keep her kids entertained. Vacation Bible School...

As spring break season approaches, high school and college students in Arizona usually have just one thing on their minds – time to hit the beach!  Whether the destination is San Diego, where many high schoolers head, or Mexico,...

We’ve all done it. In the course of running late, and gathering up kids, their stuff, and our keys, we’ve driven off and 10 minutes later have realized we’ve left our phone at home. The sinking feeling can quickly...

  If you’re new and just stopping in… welcome!  We’re so glad you’ve found Scottsdale Moms Blog! Today we’re back with another Mommy SOS topic.  If you missed our other Mommy SOS posts be sure to check them out.  We’ve covered some great...

You may have read my litany of reasons why I should hate Costco, but can't. This week, Costco made that juuuuust a little easier -- and I'm here today with a warning: The next time you go, you too will likely encounter a villainous,...

As your child ventures back to school, are you getting dizzy from all the deadlines? Organization is the key for your sanity (and your child's success). The Middle School years are a time of increasing independence with your preteen and...

With a background in teaching and a family full of lifelong learners, it’s no surprise that school choice was something I took very seriously. I waited outside a preschool before the sun had risen to secure a spot. Later,...

If I were the sign-carrying, protesting type, I would totally protest summer. I'd stand sit in my lawn chair under an umbrella out on Scottsdale Road with a long sign that read, "Shame on you summer!" I would hang outside the library...

I love to read and public libraries hold a special place in my heart. I remember going to libraries as a child feeling so proud that I got to select any book I wanted. The first time I toured...

Miss Behave is a girls clothing store located at Fashion Square Mall that has fashion-forward clothing for young girls ages 4 to 14 years old.  If you have any daughters/nieces/little ladies in your family, you know that they can be...

Empower your child to de-stress through mindfulness! Help your kiddos benefit from the practice of paying attention on-purpose, to the present, without judgment. While we’re trying to manage our own stress, our kiddos are still learning a lot about...

Every spring as the number of school days left starts to dwindle down, I make the BEST plans for summer. I have visions in my head of my children not only sitting down every day to do workbooks, but finishing them and...

  We are excited to introduce you all to Jodi Kaye.... Jodi, from The Rites of Passage, has been a Registered Nurse for almost 20 years! Motherhood and her career have led to a love and appreciation for teaching, parenting, and...