When Mountain Climbing Becomes Book Inspiration

Hayden, my protagonist in Falling into Magic, is a hiker, and fairly new to the sport, just like me. I used my own experiences trekking through the great Pacific Northwest over the past year as the source of my material for the places in Destiny Falls where she enjoys her hikes through nature. 

Why You Should Stare at Your Newborn

You might love your newborn with every cell in your being, but when you first meet, you won’t know anything about this brand new person, and your baby doesn’t know you. The first few weeks are about meeting each other and learning how to connect and communicate.

Toys: High-Tech, High-Touch, How Much?

Toys, toys, everywhere toys! You hear advice from all directions: “Don’t give your child too many toys—they’ll be spoiled.”  Or “Give your child lots of toys—they help to develop their brain!”

Get Your Baby to Sleep through the Night in ONE day!

Want baby to sleep through the night right away?

You’re desperate for sleep and the title of this post seemed liked the Holy Grail. You want to believe it could be true, that there is a magical answer out there. When our own sleep is compromised we can barely think of anything else but our tiredness. I understand. I have four children and I have been where you are once or twice in my life. Well, several hundred times, more like.

How to Transition from White Flour to Whole Grains for Kids

Sadly, the majority of grains that children are exposed to in today’s world are the refined variety. Whether it’s restaurants, birthday parties, or even Grandma’s house, white flour dominates the offerings. You can’t totally control what goes on outside your kitchen – but you can control your home and increase his whole grain consumption.

How to Get your Preschooler to Cooperate with You

It’s no secret that preschoolers crave independence—from picking out an outfit to choosing a snack, convincing your self-appointed “big kid” to cooperate can be a challenge. Learning and using a variety of kid-friendly methods, you can bring about some happy cooperation.

Is it Time to Give Up Naps?

A mother asks: “My three year old never wants to take a nap. She complains and fusses about it every day. It takes me a half hour to settle her down before she finally falls asleep. Is it time for her to give up napping?”