"Ouch," at the gas pump this morning! Every day the price is creeping up and driving up other costs as well. I’m sure that I’m not the only one whose grocery bill more than doubles its usual amount for the same purchases. I get it. Everyone is feeling the pinch and has to make up for it somehow, but it’s really putting families in a bind — worst of all, in an already difficult economic time. My kids even asked for an increase in their allowance! When it seems as if a dollar can’t stretch as far as it used to, there are ways families can cut back and really make a difference on the wallet. Do …

In my generation, there seemed to be a pretty decent mix of kids that went home on their own after school and kids that had parents waiting for them. I remember coming up to our front walkway each afternoon knowing that my mom would have a snack waiting for us at the kitchen counter. The front door would usually be open, allowing the sweet aroma to pass through the screen door. There was a sense of security and comfort in that simple consistency. I did, though, have several friends who walked into empty houses each day and were often alone as late as 8 p.m. Because of economic changes and …

Getting my daughter to answer her cell phone almost always results in getting sent straight to her obnoxious voicemail with Lady Gaga screaming back at me. But send her a text and I get a response within 30 seconds flat. What I receive, though, is a jumble of characters and jargon that I don’t understand. Such as “ttyad” for "talk to you after dinner" or “hk” for "hugs and kisses" or “idk” for "I don’t know." There is something greatly missed when a human voice is replaced by a buzz on my cell phone. As technology becomes more advanced, real-time, portable and integrated, a rift between …

In today’s baby industry, there is more availability and selection when it comes to baby food and products than ever before. For new parents, it’s especially hard to know where to begin when deciding on the right first foods for their infant. Like many new parents, Courtney and Brett Washmuth of Sarasota were faced with the same challenging decisions. They also realized they had a unique need that soon turned a family dream into a reality. In 2008, this young, avid hiking and marathoning couple decided to take on a 23-mile adventure on the Appalachian Trail with their 9-month-old infant son, …

Every morning, my alarm goes off at 5:45 a.m., to remind me that the craziness of my day is about to begin, yet again. After feeding the dog and letting him out, taking a shower, getting my son up and moving, and rushing out the door to take him to school, I realize I’m half way to work and I’ve left my laptop at home.  My veins are throbbing in my neck from the stress and I haven’t even had my first cup of coffee yet. I trudge through the day by jumping meetings, managing project teams and staying on top of deadlines. My small reprieve comes from the drive home at lunch to let the dog out. …

It all started when my son Matthew turned 9-years-old and began asking me if I would get him a dog. Having three cats and a hectic schedule, I really didn’t think getting another pet would be ideal for us. I travel every other month for several days and was not willing to kennel a pet, so other arrangements would need to be worked out. I also knew that I did not want a dog that would require a lot of activity. I was used to low-maintenance cats and wasn't sure I wanted the work that came along with a canine. I have a full-time job and our family has many obligations with extra curricular …

I was mentally and physically exhausted after a long day at work. In my last hour at the office, I envisioned myself walking through my front door, changing into more comfortable clothes, and winding down early for the evening. After dinner and getting the kids going on their homework, I finally settled into a hot bath and started to relax. The silence was abruptly breached with a high-pitched, blood-curdling, “MOM! She said something mean to me again!” followed by obnoxious banging on the bathroom door. My kids were at it again, and this time I was over it. I simply closed my eyes and …

Seat selection is critical. I pay extra for early bird check-in just to be guaranteed that I can get a good seat. And I always pick a window and row that is near the front of the plane for a quick exit once I reach my destination. Trust me, I have it all figured out and I always have a plan. That was until the flight attendant uttered those dreaded words over the intercom, “It’s going to be a full house and all seats will be taken.” Groan. Thoughts surged through my head as I scanned boarding passengers as they made their way to the aisle. I looked like a prairie dog popping up from my seat …

Six o’clock in the evening would come around and that meant one thing. Walking through the front door would be our father dressed in a suit and tie with his tattered leather briefcase in hand. His heavy footsteps would echo against the cold slate in the foyer as he sighed from a long day at work. After greeting all four of us kids, he’d walk into the kitchen, deeply inhale the wonderful aroma from whichever pot my mother had simmering on the stove, and ask, “What’s for dinner?” Dinner in the Weber household was no small feat for our mom, who prepared food for a family of six every single …

Last year while at my teenage daughter’s annual physical exam, I was asked by our pediatrician to consider including the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine with the other upcoming vaccinations that year. While I was aware that this vaccine was recently available, I decided that I wanted to learn more about the benefits and risks before making a decision. After all, this is my daughter’s life and health that could be affected.  After reading a brochure that the pediatrician gave me, I immediately explored the Internet for any information I could find. I wanted assurance that the decision I …

Once my older sister started driving, I inherited the most loathed deed of having to manually vacuum the pool. Nothing was more dreaded. It involved sticking my hand in a basket of dead bugs and spending two hours of hard work in the hot sun. Of course when the time came for my little sister to assume this fun task, my parents invested in a Kreepy Krauly pool cleaner. Go figure. After all my chores were checked off, I was handsomely rewarded with $7!  It was a pretty decent gig and I quickly learned how to get the most bang for my buck. This gave me enough money to buy a Big Gulp for the …

Now that 2010 has come to a close, many of us are reflecting on our accomplishments and shortcomings of the past year. It is also a time to contemplate about our lives and our direction. A new year can mean a clean slate and a chance to reclaim our plan of action. People often pledge to discard negative energy and make positive changes. This may be a quest for a healthier lifestyle, adopting a more positive outlook, focusing on career advancement or simply stopping a bad habit.  Making New Year's resolutions can be empowering not only for adults, but for children as well.  It's important that…

The holiday break is finally here. For many kids this means no homework, staying up late, sleeping in, unlimited hours of television, gaming and texting.  Most of all, what most parents dread: the freedom to do absolutely nothing.   Let's get real. For parents this equates to panic, as we realize that our kids will be home from school for two solid weeks. Without a plan, they will drive us nuts or possibly turn themselves into multimedia zombies.    This can all be avoided if an activity intervention is mapped out. The holiday break can be a time to bond with the family, create memories, …