Big Kids

I would love to see my children's confidence grow as vast as can be. Confidence in who they are, who they want to become, a new talent that they would like to try. Confidence that they can do whatever...

Hidden in each of our children are sparks of greatness. Even from a young age I began to see in each of my kids desires, passions, gifts, and abilities. Some sparks are more innate than others, some may be...

When I married my husband, my stepdaughter was only seven-years-old. She was a sweet little girl who loved American Girl Dolls and gymnastics. Today, she is twenty-years-old and a sophomore in college. Not only do I personally regret not seeking out...

Holy enchiladas, mamas! Eight is so much trickier than I thought it would be, and I've realized I need a new plan. My girl is busy copping an older-than-appropriate attitude, and sauntering out of the room with a GIGANTIC eye-roll, but I...

"I can't believe you failed me! I worked hard in this class and I deserve a passing grade." My student emailed me this message recently after she discovered her final grade at the end of the term. This student had...

  My Dearest Sweet Pea,    I’m thankful you still let me call you that. I’m not sure if one day you’ll resist, but for today we still embrace it. You are about to enter sixth grade. Middle school. These years, for...

Inevitably in the mommy life, you’ll be cruising along, feeling like you finally, MAYBE, just might be getting the hang of this gig, and some situation will come along and completely rain on your parade.  The pediatric dentist does...

Summer is winding down, and it's time to start thinking about the new school year. To make it easier on you, PMB has rounded up TEN of our favorite back-to-school posts here, to help you make it the best...

To kindergarten or not to kindergarten? That is a question for many parents with children who have birthdays on the months immediately preceding the cutoff date. In a time when expectations of young children are increasing, and kindergarten in Oregon is now...

School has been back in for several weeks now, and already I’m feeling my sanity start to return. It sounds mean, and I’m riddled with mom guilt even uttering these words, but some things in life are just easier...