hello lovely child

A Portrait of Love, Courage, and Hope by Michele Ranard, M.Ed.310 words Is someone in your family struggling with mental illness? Do you know a family who is? The Boy Who Loved Tornadoes (Algonquin Books) is a title by Randi Davenport which gives voice to the experiences of thousands of families who struggle with this invisible health issue. Davenport's memoir of living the nightmare...

Continue Reading.

This one's not to share with the munchkins. It's delightfully profane. It's not the one to be "caught" reading either. Maybe don't pull it out of your tote bag at the pool. Go the F* to Sleep (Ammo Books) by Adam Mansbach (llustrated by Ricardo Cortes) is refreshingly honest and meant for every parent who has experienced or is experiencing the agony of...

Continue Reading

Pick No. 1 The Miracle Ball Method for Pregnancy by Elaine Petrone At first blush, it's hard to imagine two simple squishy balls and a wee little square book could be the stuff of miracles. But Elaine Petrone (a former dancer who had a career ending injury) has designed an "un-exercise" method to relax muscles, breathe properly, and decrease anxiety and fatigue. The Miracle Ball...

Continue Reading

Culinary Adventures of Fathers Who Cook for Their Families? Hmmmmm. I love how utterly different this book is. Inside are tips and recipes for everyday and gourmet from a bunch of fathers who cook for their families. Here's the catch. The said fathers boiling water all just happen to be A-list writers. Yep. The fellas in Man With a Pan entertainingly share kitchen tales and...

Continue Reading.

ERGO really is this fun. BabyWearing is always in fashion. Seriously. I'm crazy for these ERGOnomic carriers  to ease mobility and keep your little one (up to 45 pounds!) safe, secure, and happy. Here is the organic cotton beauty we own, and although it's possible to snag a less expensive baby carrier, I wouldn't recommend it. *Read about the quality below. ERGO is the best of...

Continue Reading

sleep in heavenly peace under the stars... Bedtime is fun again! Fun? Sound beyond naive coming from a fellow parent? For many families, settling down for bedtime is anything but fun... and possibly the most stressful part of the day. But for children who fear the dark or need extra comfort and calm for better sleep... there is an affordably adorable option aimed to help them SLEEP WELL. C l o...

Continue Reading

Practical ideas to help your child become more organized. by M. Ranard, M.Ed. 715 words “Just so you know, mom I’ve got a test on Friday I’m gonna fail.” My sixth-grader is barely through the front door when this escapes his lips. Because he is an excellent student, my head is spinning. Smiling, I remark “What do you mean? You’ve got three more...

Continue Reading.

New breakthrough resource for kids on the autism spectrum. by M. Ranard, M.Ed. 610 words Every once in a while, a new book comes along that makes you go OF COURSE because it is so very genius in its simplicity and usefulness. That is exactly how I responded upon discovering Point to Happy: A Book for kids on the Autism Spectrum (Workman Publishing,...

Continue Reading.

10 Tips to Help Because Names Really Do Matter. by M. Ranard, M.Ed. 730 words “Names matter immensely. They tell the world in one stroke a lot about you and your family.” ~Jennifer Griffin Are you or someone close to you expecting a baby? Congratulations! Choosing a name is one of the most thrilling and potentially stressful duties on your long list of...

Continue Reading.

5 Clever Crafty Books With Projects to Create With Kids by M. Ranard, M.Ed. 650 words Now that my sons are teens, except for gingerbread houses around the holidays, it’s not easy to get them crafting. But young kids adore creating anything, and the developmental benefits of art and crafting are endless (fine motor skills, imagination, math, abstract thinking). There are some great new...

Continue Reading

4 Cool Crafty Reads for Parents by M. Ranard, M.Ed. 600 words We have heard it from their teachers and reading experts, but it can be tough to put into practice. To help our kids become better readers, it’s important to model reading at home. If we set an example and allow our kids to catch us reading—even if it’s just a recipe...

Continue Reading