With Christmas rapidly approaching and the New Year just 2 weeks away, many of us are feeling stressed out and overwhelmed. Even if you enjoy this time of the year, the to-do list seems to grow daily and getting everything done in time feels like hard work. All that hard work can actually make some of us feel a little down about the holidays. But instead of letting the long … [Read more...]
3 Quality-vs-Quantity Time Activities That Could Save Your Marriage and Family
Does mom time matter? That was the topic of an article published in the Journal of Family and Marriage earlier this year. The Washington Post explained the study in detail. But here’s the gist: Researchers claimed that the amount of time spent with mothers is not linked to the well-being of children ages 3-11. The study points to similar findings for father time. Now, I don’t … [Read more...]
How Eating Meals with Your Kids Can Literally Change Their Lives
“Maaaaaan, y’all ain’t gonna believe what we did at school one time.” That’s how my younger brother prepped us for one of his college escapade stories. He played division one basketball and was always getting into excitement (read: trouble). We were all are sitting around for mealtime and it was his turn to share. The Prank of the Century This particular evening my … [Read more...]
More Than Slaves: “Underground” Celebrates Black Heroes In New Series
What do you tell your kids about the history of slavery in the United States? In recent years we’ve seen Hollywood’s perspective on history, telling stories from The Help to 12 Years a Slave with the perspective of Blacks as victims, inferior, or struggling to get by unless aided by a white savior. However, in early 2016, WGN America’s new series “Underground” is looking to … [Read more...]
5 Areas for My Family to Stress Less & Live More
As my quest for a stress free and more balanced life continues, I have turned my focus to how my home is run on a daily basis. Stress doesn't just come from your own bad habits, but sometimes a household change is in order to get things right. Much like the early bird challenge shook up my morning routine, I am shaking up my family’s day-to-day for the next month just to see if … [Read more...]
A Valentine’s Day Celebration with the Kids, it Can Work
Valentine’s Day celebrations conjure images of candlelit dinners and walking arm-in-arm on a street light lined avenue. The epitome of two people in love spending time staring into each others eyes. But what if you have a gaggle of kids and no babysitter? Couples with children sometimes let these special days pass them by because of parental responsibilities. But trust me, it … [Read more...]
5 Days of Hashtags Busy Professionals Can Use to Connect with Their Family
Mr. and Ms. working professionals, what is the most important thing in your life next to your faith? Most of you would proudly say your children, spouse, or family. And you have a full house of family, food, and joy during the holiday season to prove it. But as you know, the high costs associated with your family being the most important thing in your life sometimes competes … [Read more...]
10 Family Activities Sure to Create Memorable Moments
What makes a family happy? Is it the things we possess? Or is it the time spent together? My guess is most people will answer time. Even deeper, it is the quality over the quantity of time. Quality vs. Quantity Family Time Today, families can spend a lot of time together; but that time may not always be quality time. Picture a family sitting at home with dad … [Read more...]
Marriage Lessons Learned In Grad School – The Weekly Meeting
by Tara Pringle Jefferson Growing up, we had what you would call "family meetings." No big deal, just a half hour or so for everyone to go around and say what was on their mind, at a time when they had everyone's full attention. I remember feeling important during those meetings, because my parents were listening to me, my sisters were listening and my feelings were … [Read more...]