Kids & Family - Oct. 6, 2009
Six strategies to deal with tantrums
Prior to this fall, I considered myself pretty fortunate in the tantrum department. Neither of my sons were big fit-throwers at 2 or 3 when such behavior is common. But around the ripe age of 5, my son started to fuss in such an explosive way that I questioned everything from his diet to the history of my family's mental health.
Tags: tanrums, kids, motherfest, parenting

Kids & Family - July 27, 2009
Motherfest: If parenting had a slogan, what would it be?
On certain days, "Mmm, Mmm good" is the perfect tagline for parenting, but during more grueling times slogans like "It's Miller Time" are more descriptive of the experience.
Tags: Motherfest, taglines

Kids & Family - May 11, 2009
Motherfest: To Wii or not to Wii
When I became a parent, I decided early on that my sons would not have video game systems. I based this decision on the fact that so many modern games are violent, and because I wanted my kids to spend as little time in front of a television screen as possible. But that might change now that I played Wii.
Tags: motherfest, wii, video games, atari games

Kids & Family - March 2, 2009
Motherfest: "How do we know our life is real?"
Last weekend, my 6-year-old son and I drove out to see "Coraline" in 3-D in New Berlin. During the 25-minute drive to the cinema, we had our most intense conversation to date. Read more about it in this month's "Motherfest" column, a Milwaukee-focused parenting column only on OnMilwaukee.com.
Tags: motherfest, parenting, "the truman show"

Kids & Family - Dec. 8, 2008
Motherfest: Do I love my biological kid more than my adopted kid?
Few people ask me about the difference in my relationships with my sons, one who was adopted from Guatemala and one who is biological. I think most people feel like the subject matter is too personal, but for me, it's not.
Tags: biological child adopted child, adoption, motherfest