Big Kids

  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...

The fictional character Anne of Green Gables said, “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” And I couldn’t agree more. As a desert dweller, October is finally the month when we can actually say summer...

I did a little trial egg hunt with my almost three-year-old last week and realized that she doesn't quite get it. She was all for me hiding the eggs, but then the "go and find them" part was a...

It is my very first time parenting a sixteen year old. Every day is brand new for her and I. She gets to be my guinea pig as I figure out this parenting thing. She is an absolute dream...

Summer flew by and it’s that time of year where the kids are gearing up to head back to school. Being in a new classroom with different friends or even in a brand-new school is very scary and intimidating...

Living in Arizona means we have countless back-to-school options available to every family! Families can choose from microschools, traditional, homeschool, charter, private, and parochial schools. It is wonderful to have so many choices available to our children, but it...

  Like every other craft-loving-DIYing-Pinterest-obsessed-mother, I deal with my post-Christmas withdrawal symptoms by throwing myself fully into the next holiday on my radar: Valentines Day! And, as result, I usually spend the majority of January trolling through Pinterest trying to find uber...

With summer just around the corner, I know that many of us are on the hunt for Scottsdale sports and activities for our kids. While some people are searching for all day summer camps, some of us fall into the category...

SMB was so honored and excited to attend the MassMutual #FutureSmart event in downtown Phoenix recently. Over 3000 children were invited to the Phoenix Suns' Talking Stick Arena to learn all about planning for a successful future. The host...

Are you struggling to come up with a unique party theme for your daughter’s 13th birthday? We’ve got you covered with some excellent ideas that will definitely excite your soon-to-be teenager. And these five party themes won’t break the...

Don’t get us wrong, Summertime: It’s not that you’re an unwelcome guest. You SO VERY overstay your welcome. Anyone who comes on Memorial Day and leaves on Halloween without offering to help offset the increase in utilities is just plain rude.

Nomophobia. Ever heard of it? If you have a tween or teen living in your house, you’ve probably witnessed the effects of it. Defined as a state of stress caused by having no access to or being unable to...

In today’s world, the minute a woman finds out she is pregnant for the first time, she has a vast array of helpful resources at her fingertips. There are books, websites, and online support communities for every stage and...

This post is brought to you by our incredible venue sponsors for the upcoming Mom's Night Out Arizona, Ice Den and 18° Neighborhood Grill. Looking forward to seeing so many of you readers at the event on May 10...

The Scottsdale Civic Center Library has been a saving grace for my kids and me this summer. We’ve gone regularly to escape the grueling heat, join a “Shake, Rattle and Roll” class, check out children's books, and participate in...

As we approach the beginning of Kindergarten, I want to tell you how proud we are of you!  You have grown so much and it is hard to believe you are spreading your wings a bit more each day....

I always love reading what other bloggers and celebrities have in their bags. I have learned of so many random things that people have, that become so useful in certain situations. I decided to take apart my large diaper...

Not sure if you guys have noticed, but we live in something of a digital age. I, more than most, retain an affinity for the old fashioned... I make pen-to-paper to-do lists and include items already completed just to give them a...

Father's day is coming up and Dads love homemade and thoughtful gifts too. Here's 5 Father's Days crafts that are fun for children to make and Dad is sure to cherish. 1. Paper Tie: There are patterns online and even...

Many years ago, after my first child was born and I became fascinated with the whole birthing process, I became a certified childbirth educator. I loved helping couples overcome their anxiety about birth and making their journey to parenthood...

September is Suicide Awareness Month, and earlier this year there was a report put out by the CDC in regards to youth mental health that was – to put it mildly - alarming. One of the statistics included in...

We all want to raise children who grow into adults that are compassionate and understand the needs of others. For years, I have wanted to expose the kids to the reality that is found in food banks, orphanages and homeless shelters. But, let's...

May is when we celebrate our teachers. It's a special time to thank them for everything they have done for our children all year. Just like we challenge ourselves to be thankful all year, not just on Thanksgiving Day,...

For months I was anticipating Disney+. We were counting down the days and planned a movie marathon in our jammies on the day it premiered. We don’t do much screen time aside from some TV, so it was like...

I usually consider myself pretty up to speed when it comes to the laws regarding the safety of my kids.  I've regularly reviewed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrations (NHTSA) website for recommendations when it comes to car seat...

Editor's Note: Please join us in welcoming Kelli to our contributor team! She has a 2 year old daughter and is ready to share her parenting advice, wisdom and ideas with the local community.  We’re about one month into the...

It seems there are precious few things as highly anticipated as sending one's child off to Kindergarten. What a mixed bag of sentiments - nostalgia, nerves, grief, excitement disbelief... We do our best to capture it all in grinning,...

The pressure to perform in high school these day is intense. Kids are warned by parents and teachers that their grades matter from day one. Many of them are pushed to take as many Honors and AP classes as their...

I recently read an article about how mothers in France “live and let live”.  They don’t pack huge diaper bags or thrust all kinds of emergency paraphernalia into their strollers for all of life’s      "what-ifs".  They just...

Summer time is here and many of us are wondering what to do with our kids so that they aren't totally bored before the new school year rolls around. Let's be honest, school gives mom's and dad's a break...