I had to double check what I read this morning- that a fifth grader, a 10-year-old girl, killed herself. Things had gotten so bad in Ashlynn Connor’s mind that she had just asked her mom to homeschool her the day before she was found hanging by a scarf in her closet. So many things… Read more
My kids think it’s funny when I cry from something on TV that moves me. Call me a sap, but it’s already happened on The X Factor a few times. Even though there have only been a few episodes so far, the tear-jerking moments have come from watching the families that come to root on… Read more
By the time I had my fourth child I had outgrown my mothers’ club, the same mothers’ club that quickly became my lifeline when we first moved to this area eight years ago. My involvement in it mostly consisted…Read more about support groups at Sacramento Parent
By Julie Samrick For many people Memorial Day conjures images of 3-day weekends, discounts at the mall, and when we can officially wear white shoes without looking tacky. But it's important we pause to reflect and
By Julie Samrick As graduations and other milestones abound this time of year, it reminds me of the bittersweet moments in all parents' lives when our kids grow and move on to a new phase a little too
Making homemade pizza crust is something I've tried to master for quite some time. I've even been known to say it's on my bucket list. How could combining some flour, yeast, and oil be so difficult? Why is it so
By Julie Samrick This weekend my kids wanted to go to the park. They wanted to swim. My husband said, "We need one day to clean up. Every room in the house looks like a hurricane hit it!" He went in the backyard
By Julie Samrick Dear Tracy, I am sorry I can’t make your bachelorette party later this month. I would like nothing better than to kick up my heels with you and dance, to celebrate the next wonderful chapter of
By Julie Samrick Can you tell what this is? It’s a clay gorilla, created in its entirety by my seven-year-old daughter. The school assignment was to create a rain forest animal at home and
By Julie Samrick It’s evident why 16-year-olds throughout America’s classrooms continue to read F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic The Great Gatsby nearly a century after it was written. The slim novel is packed
By Lowry Manders I recently heard author Bruce Feiler interviewed on NPR about his book The Secrets of Happy Families and as I listened I thought to myself, “I have got to get a book published!” He is echoing so much of the things I preach (and try to live) about how to create happy ... Read more
By Julie Samrick “Christmas will never be as magical until you have children of your own,” my mother told me sadly after I declared there was no such thing as Santa Claus. When another little girl spilled the news to me at school, first putting any doubt in my head, I quickly lumped the ... Read more
By Erin Kurt Throughout the years of being a teacher, mother and parenting coach, I realized that there are some very powerful phrases, that if used consistently, can be extremely effective when parents are trying to get their child to listen or to get them to do something instantly. Here are ... Read more
