Parenting Wisdom

Here are some research-based tips to help an introvert mama to thrive, regarding crib versus co-sleeping, and general personal wellness! There are two different schools of thought, which can be unfairly and inadequately distilled down to “fostering independence” versus...

Spirited Child - high energy, feisty and very active.  They are ready to climb into almost any situation, and exercise little impulse, control or caution when they do.  They are highly reactive.  They are often described as a handful....

Does everything seem intensified with your teens? Feelings, beliefs, disappointments, fears and hopes? Parenting teens is often challenging. Add to that their parents going through a divorce and it can get even trickier. As a mom, how do you...

Soon after having Nora I got a copy of The Rookie Mom's Handbook: 250 Activities to do with (and without!) your baby.  It's been a great resource for ideas and information. And a great gift for a new-momma! One of...

I try to keep it light and positive with my personal social media posts. Of course, I like sharing the news and adventures of my boys and the wise cracks of my hubby. I like to share what we’re...

2017 started off with a bang. Literally. A bang straight to the ground. My 20 month old (at the time) was so excited to start the day, she was running around our island. It was a fall like any...

If you're looking for a fun process art project to do this spring break, consider a reproduction of Vincent Van Gogh's Starry Night. If your preschooler is like mine and wants the facts, you can let them know: Van...

Every city has characteristics that stand out and unite its citizens.  As a Scottsdale Mom, I'm sure you can relate to these 7 Wonders of Scottsdale:  1. Cyclists everywhere - all the time - They come in all shapes, but most of them...

Our family is making the best of time spent at home. We're doing our best to reduce our contact with the outside world and honor the quarantine and social distancing as best as we can.  This is not an...

All day long, mother's work so hard to take care of their family and home. Whether she is a working mom or a stay at home mom, her job is never ending and doesn't get any vacation days. Mother's...

Soccer is BIG here in Scottsdale, so chances are if you have kids, you're spending time at soccer games. We love watching our kids play and have a passion for something like soccer. This sport teaches them teamwork, the...

The following situations are based on my experiences. Please contact your doctor for any medical advice regarding your personal circumstance. Let me start out by saying that being “good enough” is falling way short in my perfectionist world. I am...

When I first approached the subject of mom tribes I was missing my California life, specifically my life as a mom of babies and toddlers. I was missing the camaraderie that comes from new motherhood, the swapping of baby...

I’ve been on a reading frenzy lately. Fiction, non-fiction, historical non-fiction, spiritual, parenting… My bedroom nightstand would look like a cluttered book mess without the help of my trusty Kindle: One of the books I’ve been reading is The Happiness...

If you're new to Scottsdale Moms Blog - WELCOME!  We're so happy to have you in our little corner of the world-wide-web! Here's a little recap for you newbies...Over the past year, Joy and I have been  posting Steph vs...

It's archives week here at SMB.  Here's one from our early days: ***** We all know that its hot; its Summer in Arizona for crying out loud!  I feel like the Queen of Redundancy every time I open my mouth to...

My husband travels for work. He isn't gone every single week, but he's on the road enough for our entire family to really feel it while he is gone. He works hard for all of us at a job he enjoys, so I fully...

Dear Blue Bell, What? Did you really think I forgot?? When a teensy, weensy listeria outbreak forced us apart in April of 2015, I choked down Blue Bunny in a rebound attempt. It's been nearly 2 years, and I’m not too proud to...

My husband and I recently had dinner with friends who let it slip that they are expecting. A million things flew through my mind that I wanted to tell her, but I contained myself. As we discussed details and...

Local, friendly, honest and affordable: "Holiday Spirit" is an easy recommendation for your holiday light install and take-down! Who doesn't love supporting a great, local company in the name of holiday fun?!

With the weather improving, it's finally time to get outside and play! Here are some of my kids' favorite backyard activities when they were toddlers and preschoolers. Create Animal Habitats: My kids love doing this, even to this day! Each child...

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...

I have a ferocious reader on my hands. She is always asking to be read to, "reading"  to her stuffed animals or asking when we can get to the book store or library. That said, I'm always on the hunt for...

We moms are all supposed to be on the same team, right? But what about those times when you catch another mom giving you a sideways judgy glance - whether it's because you just let your toddler eat a...

October officially marks Breast Cancer Awareness month, and if you do nothing else but "touch your ta-ta's" (that would be do a breast self-exam) this month, you will have done a good thing! So you may be thinking..."No one in...

Do you know your child’s love languages? I kept hearing about love languages but I honestly didn’t care very much. What did it matter? You love how you love and that’s all there is to it. Also, I really wasn’t...

I have two daughters.  Both are strong willed.  For those that know me well, this is not surprising. I’m sure my parents chuckle every time they think about it. My older daughter is focused, driven and particular. She is the...

Marie "KonMari" Kondo's life mission is to organize the world and spark joy in people’s lives. Her bestselling book, "The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up," is not only a quick read but a great catalyst for change in...

Vampires, ghosts, goblins, werewolves, zombies ...all scary, sure. But if one came knocking on my door with the intention to frighten me, I would be like, "Um, no, not today. You're going to have to try again because I'm the mother of a...

My three year old son has officially completed his first semester of preschool (do they have semesters in preschool?). I'm not going to claim that surviving the last five months makes me some kind of preschool parenting expert, but my family has learned...