Parenting Wisdom

The desert garden is growing! It's actually growing! Three weeks ago these plants went in the ground, and now they are huge. Guess why?  Maintenance. Exactly what this third (and final) installment is all about.  Much like children, a garden needs...

Summer in Scottsdale! We are so excited you found the SMB Guide to Surviving Summer in Scottsdale. This is our 6th year of bringing you tips, tricks and things to do, all written to help YOU survive summer with...

Baby Girl, As our first Mother’s Day together approaches, there is one nagging idea that I need you to grasp as you grow up. Hopefully I will be alive and well when you are reading this, and it will only...

This is probably the most important thank you note I could ever write... yet I can’t quite find the right words. I’m talking about the amount of gratitude I have toward my mother, especially now that I am a...

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,...

Watching your child's communication skills develop is both fascinating and adorable! As a mom and an SLP (Speech Language Pathologist), I am very passionate about early communication development. This is the second post in a series I have started to...

Here is all the tips and tricks that we use during the summer to make it through the extreme heat and the predictable boredom. Whatever it takes to get us to September!  Read all the Tips & Tricks written by...

Traveling with kids can be BRUTAL, but we all got to do it. So use our tips and tricks to make the journey a bit easier, and GOOD LUCK!  Travel Tips & Tricks {SMB TIP: We also love all these local...

Seriously the worst part about Summer with the kids is three meals a day, every.single.day. Why do they have to eat so many times a day!?! We are joking, but there are great things about summer cooking too, for...

We all know it’s important to exercise throughout your pregnancy. Of course, experts say not to go out there and try a new hardcore workout while pregnant, but it’s healthy and encouraged to keep doing activities that your body...

Ok, I know I am not alone in this, I call them “besties in my head.” You’re up late at night… early morning (diaper change, bottle refill, etc.....#momlife) and you find yourself scrolling through your phone, down a deep dark...

Go for a walk: around your neighborhood, at a park or on a trail. Talk about what they see and how nature is important to our world.  Pick up litter: get a garbage bag and some gloves and...

As a new member of this blog, I struggled with what to write about in my first post even though I had so many ideas in my head. Finally, it dawned on me. VULNERABILITY. This is not a word...

DIY Savings Bank Supplies Shoe Box Cardboard Scrapbook Paper Stickers Decorative Tape Packing Tape Glue Scissors (adults!) Step 1 - Find a Box We picked a sturdy preschool sized shoe box that was already pretty cute.             Step 2 - Make Cardboard Dividers Use...

Isn't it fascinating to watch your child's communication skills develop? As a mama of two and an SLP (Speech Language Pathologist), I am very passionate about early speech and language development.  May is "Better Speech and Hearing Month" (sponsored by...

“No one goes to Target because they need something, you go to Target and let Target tell you what you need.” How many of you ladies can relate to this? I find it amazing how much money you can...

Spring temperatures are here, but not for long! Need a reason to get your kids outside and have them learn something new? Try hosting a ladybug playdate.   Whether your playgroup has three kids or thirty, this backyard or park playdate offers...

I wrote this “letter” to my breast pump the week after I officially retired from pumping last summer. It’s been a while since then, but I recently revisited the draft and wondered if others felt the same way about...

The planting phase has finally arrived. Huzzah! I thought I'd have it all set by March 1st, but Scottsdale went and had a weird second "winter" and the outside temperature wasn't warm enough to plant. Now it's mid-March, warmer,...

"Play is the work of a child." -Maria Montessori  It's the last day of the month and my submission for SMB is due within 24 hours, or else I will not be eligible for an entry into a drawing for...

As a parent we worry about EVERYTHING… so if you don’t have enough anxiety keeping you up at night, here’s one more thing to keep in mind. Have you heard the term “Sharenting”? I hadn’t until recently. It was brought...

It was Tuesday, December 17th, the last day of pre-k for my twins before Christmas break. Christmas music was calmly drifting throughout our home but I am pretty sure all that my children could hear was me nagging, correcting...

As mothers, we often find things overwhelming or hard in the moments where we lose our sense of self. In order to properly care for the people around us, we truly need to stay true to who we are....

  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...

In honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday, we decided to plan a mini-party at the park. I wanted to keep the theme focused, so we picked my daughter's favorite Dr. Seuss book, The Cat in the Hat. We invited a...

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,...

Do you have a child and want to participate in a local study and get paid for it? Sign up to have your child use a body cream and get compensated up to $125! Stephens is looking for males and...

They pop up in my email box each week; “indulge in the latest treat from __________”; articles on my Facebook page, “you deserve it, take a break from your life”; and Instagram posts with blocks of words “self-care is____________” Self-care...

Do you gals want to talk about dry shampoo for a minute? Because dry shampoo saves my life for days on end. I know that as busy moms who have so many hats to wear and plates to juggle,...

I am the proud mamma of three children and owner of… a mini van. Up until about eight months ago, the words “I want a mini van” would have never come out of my mouth. When we had our...