Parenting Wisdom

I see you across the playground. You look over and smile. Our kids are similar ages, and shoot, we might just have a chance of exchanging small talk and becoming friends. But you see... unfortunately I already know how...

Target. Costco. Two words that send moms into declarations of love while conjuring up gleeful images of roaming the aisles with reckless abandon, scoring deal after deal. While both stores offer large quantities of family items, from floss to furniture, all...

Watch out, Moms and Dads everywhere. The struggle is real. It does exist. It can happen to you. Maybe you did not know about it, like me. Or, perhaps someone never properly taught you. But beware because you might be next:...

I'm not here to complain. I'm actually here to tell you about my positive maternity leave experience. Here's the thing, I'm one of the lucky few, a few moms do exist with great maternity leave experiences. I'm here to tell...

Summers are hard. We all have grand plans in the beginning, but we're now halfway through and it's time to get real. Embrace what's working so far, drop anything that's not, and take a glance at these tips to...

Hi Mamas! My name is Lindsay and I have been a desert resident for two years now.  As the heat is upon us, I wanted to offer up a summer themed Friday Favorites.  All things to help you stay...

It happened over night. I went from having a tiny immobile baby who sat nicely on a blanket and played with toys within reach, to a running toddler who will push, open, pull, eat and climb on anything she...

It is officially summer in AZ. Take a look back at some archived posts to find great tips for beating the heat and having fun with your kids.

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,...

Like many mommies, I enjoy my coffee. Each day begins with a cup, and I usually end up buying another while I'm out and about. There may be a Starbucks on every corner, but there are several local coffee...

One is a BIG YEAR when it comes to milestones. We lost the bottle shortly after her first birthday. The binkies were packed up and “given to another baby” by 18 months. Her vocabulary exploded. And we even rolled...

Summer is quickly approaching, which means there are going to be quite a few teens looking for a job. If this is their first time, it can be a little overwhelming to figure out where to start. We just...

Ice Excavation: Fill a plastic container with some water, ice and little toys you want the kids to “excavate,” the ice cubes will help mix things up and prevent all of the toys sinking to the bottom. Freeze overnight!...

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...

I'm probably one of the few people on the planet who doesn’t watch Dance Moms. It’s because I grew up dancing and spent time in the competition scene, and the show is nowhere close to my reality. But if it wasn't so extreme no one would...

Earth Day is April 22nd and it's a great opportunity to teach your kids about planet Earth! When I was perusing Pinterest to find some Earth Day inspiration, I found a lot of crafts that involved using lots of (new)...

We are lucky enough to be blessed with baby #3 joining our family this summer and as I get bigger and more uncomfortable, I keep thinking about the differences between pregnancy #1 and #3 (Sorry middle child, pregnancy #2...

Darling boys, you are still little. And though you couldn't possibly know it yet, you're making me so much better. I'm a better wife. ...because I am praying for yours. May I model the woman you might one day seek out: - One who loves her husband...

A happy coincidence led two sisters to become contributors to their respective City Moms Blogs in Scottsdale, AZ and Albuquerque, NM. Here's how they help each other survive day-to-day motherhood and then write about it! Ann: "You'll be best friends one day." Growing...

  When you find that your fancy purse is filled with cheerios and your stilettos are gathering dust, it's time to to call in reinforcements before you fully commit to flip flops and yoga pants. Grab your girlfriends and schedule a much-deserved...

I'm fairly certain that since becoming a contributing blogger here at SMB, that I have not shied away from the fact that my 5 year old is quite the "spirited" child. He definitely marches to the beat of his...

Well, it feels like I blinked and we went from winter to summer! In Arizona, we have a lot of opportunities to play outside, so all of our outdoor toys get A LOT of use. That being said, as...

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...

Even though I was lonely after my divorce, I knew that I wouldn’t be ready to date until I took the time to let my broken heart heal. People would bring up online dating, and I would brush it...

                I turn 29 this month…and although I try not to put too much emphasis on a number…I do feel slightly panicked to be in the last year of my twenties. To me, being in my twenties feels safe to make mistakes...

Dear "Should", I am so over you. "Should". You are a burden. You are intrusive. You are the source of Mommy Wars and exhaustion, laughably high standards and soul-deadening guilt. You are wearying. You are unwelcome. "Should". I am so much more than your bleak message. We moms...

I am all about some shamrock shaped sugar cookies with green sprinkles to celebrate the Luck O’ The Irish…but in recent years I found a recipe I love. Please note that this treat is for all of you PARENTS.  This...

It’s that time. Actually, it’s been that time for awhile… Potty Training I hear those two words and my entire body tenses. To say that my oldest was difficult in the potty training department is an understatement. She flat out refused...

From Renée: Kate and I have been writing a series about playdates we bring our kids on, but then we thought, what about us? We needed a Mommy Playdate! The day worked out perfectly. I dropped my oldest off at...

You've made it this far! You pushed through the morning sickness of the first trimester and breezed right through the second. You can see the finish line ahead. For some, childbirth can be swift and painless. For others, childbirth...