I have recently been talking to one of my close friends regarding parenting struggles he is having with his teenagers. The topic of protecting the parent-teen relationship in the context of setting boundaries and consequences has come up several times. I began to think about how to negotiate the boundaries and consequences all families must have to function effectively, within the parent-teen relationship.

In my friend’s case, he is concerned if he is too strict or pushes too hard he…

I remember when I found out that I was pregnant with my youngest son, I stumbled upon the pregnancy forum on Baby Center.  Baby center has a birth club for the birth month and year that my baby was due so that you could connect with mothers who were experiencing the same things that you were.  It almost seems like yesterday that I was busy surfing through the forums and…

Last fall we decided to take my youngest son out of daycare so that he could stay at home with me during the day.  At first I was nervous because I wasn’t sure how I was going to care for him during the day.  I am thankful that he has started learning how to play independently and can entertain himself for a few minutes.  During those first several weeks, I was so excited and wanted to continue teaching him the things that he was currently learning in daycare.  Things changed…

This week has flown by and I can’t believe that tomorrow is Friday.  I started participating in #ASKAWAYFriday and I have enjoyed it. I love connecting with other bloggers and learning more about them. I wanted to participate in this blog hop because I don’t always share a ton of information about myself.  I thought #ASKAWAYFriday was the perfect way for everyone to get to know me on a personal basis. For those who don’t know what #ASKAWAYFriday is, you exchange a set of 10 questions for…

Check out the blog for this fashion tip for YOU and BABY! http://www.todaysthebestday.com/fashion-tip-9-leggings-oversized-sweaters/ …

It has been two weeks since I participated in #ASKAWAYFriday because of the holidays.  I love connecting with new bloggers and learning more about them.  I decided to participate because I don’t always share a ton of information about myself and thought it was a great way for everyone to get to know me on a personal basis.  For those who don’t know what #ASKAWAYFriday is, you exchange a set of 10 questions for another blogger to answer. Below are 10 questions that Jodi asked me and I hope…

I remember when I found out that I was pregnant with my youngest son, I stumbled upon the pregnancy forum on Baby Center.  Baby center has a birth club for the birth month and year that my baby was due so that you could connect with mothers who were experiencing the same things that you were.  It almost seems like yesterday that I was busy surfing through the forums and…

My mom taught me to write thank you notes (thanks, Mom!), because we are civilized, polite people who have respect for our loved ones and an overall fondness for the complex social cues found in Jane Austen novels.

She gave me the basic formula when I was little:

Thank person for…

Are you planning on traveling this Christmas?  If so, you should make emergency plans in case of inclement weather derail your best laid out plan.  Winter storms can make traveling dangerous especially in…

For a long time I just accepted that the costs of gas were a part of life.  I never checked which gas station was cheapest; I always figured that they were pretty much all the same and who cares about a cent or two here and there? When I moved recently, just a couple of towns over (from richy-richy Avon, CT to working-class Bristol); same state, same county even, I couldn’t help but notice that gas is always .20 to .25 cents cheaper across the board.  I am still having sticker shock and…

Our bodies are magnificent fine-tuned machines.  For all the body parts to work flawlessly and meticulously together, they require the daily consumption of certain nutrients and plenty of water to ensure peak performance.…

Today has been a lazy day, but we have had a great day. It is starting to look and feel more like fall out. The leaves are not changing color as much, due to lots of rain. They are however falling out of the trees, and the temperatures have gotten really cool and crisp. I wanted to share a fun activity with you, that is perfect anytime of year. It is especially good for those days where it is to cold to go out and play or when it is rainy. It will keep them entertained for at least…

Is your child’s backpack too heavy, bulky, or about to burst at the seams because your child is constantly stuffing all of their school supplies, textbooks, library books, lunch boxes, and other personal belongings into their backpack?  A heavy backpack can cause long-term health problems or injuries.  Over the last few years, more children are…

As your kids are heading back to school and stuffing their backpack full of school supplies and books, it is important for parents to make sure that their backpack isn’t too heavy.  Did you know that most children carry their backpack improperly? Misusing a backpack and wearing it improperly can lead to long-term health problems or injuries.…

Back to school is here (where did the summer go?) and it’s time to prepare ourselves and our kids.  Here are some great back to school tips that will help for an easier transition for everyone in your family:

•  Talk to your child regarding his feelings about the first day of school and don’t dismiss his emotions.  It might seem natural to respond with, “You have nothing to be nervous about, don’t be silly”, however your child is clearly…

Many parents often times pressure their children to start potty training their child before they are fully ready.  Potty training before your child is ready can cause unnecessary stress for both you and your toddler.  With all three of my kids, I waited until they were ready to potty train before I even attempted it.  A…

Welcome to my page!  Thank you for stopping by Uplifting Families.  I wanted to take the time and thank all of those people that have made Uplifting Families successful.  Without your love and support, my blog wouldn’t be where it is today.  I started blogging in November of 2011, shortly after my youngest son was born, because I wanted to help other mother’s…