Ask yourself if this sounds familiar: You sit down to a family dinner and ask your children how their day went. The unison response? Fine. You follow this up by asking what happened at school only to get a sigh and an exasperated, Nothing. Getting your kids to open up to you is a Herculean task. But it is definitely one that you should work on, especially at an early age. Heres how to get your kids to talk more with you: Look for the opportunities Your children oftentimes will come to you with opportunities to start an... Read More

When spring rolls around and our cars start taking on a yellowish tint from all the pollen, its easy to remember that allergy season has arrived. Unfortunately, many of us have allergens that are building up right in our own homes, making our families sick and feeling run-down. If your family is suffering from allergy problems, here are a few things you can do to protect them in your home: Cleanliness Probably the biggest gripe when it comes to housecleaning is the hatred people feel for dusting. However, this isnt just an issue... Read More

When your kids are growing up in a household, the adults around provide them with role models for future behavior. Oftentimes, when you look at an adults failed relationships, the failure can be traced back to their role models and how they were brought up. The relationships we develop as adults are often a mirror of the relationships we saw when we were growing up. If a child sees that you and your spouse dont respect each other, then they are more likely to grow up not respecting their spouse. Heres how you can model healthy... Read More

Its the dream of all of us Moms that well raise our children to be healthy, happy, and independent, so we can watch them head off to be responsible adults. But just like every mom wants to think that her child is smart and good-looking (arent they all?) we also tend to over-exaggerate just how independent they are. Heres a quick run-down of some major areas to determine how independent your kids really are: Basic Life Skills First off, lets talk about basic life skills. These should start as soon as possible. You dont want to go... Read More

Believe it or not, another summer is right around the corner. And for you busy moms, many of you are already planning for your kids activities this summer so you dont have to hustle at the last minute. One of the best experiences you can choose for your child is to attend a camp, be it a day camp or an overnight camp experience. So, heres a rundown of some of the best camp activities you can look for in Denver depending on your childs special interests. Music is always a popular activity with kids, but if you want to move... Read More

Many of us were brought up with the mentality that we had to bury our emotions and not show them to outsiders because this was a sign of weakness. However, recent research has shown that doing this, especially when it comes to raising our children, can have a detrimental effect on those around us. Part of this conclusion comes from research on emotional intelligence (EQ), a term that is defined as the capacity to be aware of, control, and express ones emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically.... Read More

Theres a great moment at the end of the Mila Kunis comedy Bad Moms when shes speaking before the PTA and acknowledges the fact that she is a bad mom. The reality, she says, is that being a mom is a next-to-impossible job. As parents, we all make mistakes and do things that make us feel like failures. But instead of letting that guilt eat at us, we need to move past it. This is easier said than done. We are constantly bombarded with media images of the perfect mom who can cook the kids a nutritious breakfast, get them... Read More

Its that time of year againtime to break out the green clothes and celebrate St. Patricks Day, the nations official tip of the hat to Irish heritage and culture. Even if you arent Irish, its fun to get dressed up and celebrate this holiday. Unfortunately, a lot of the celebrations seem to center around drinking green beer and may not be very family-friendly. If youre looking for some safe activities with the kids, try these on for size: Do some Irish themed foodsSure, corned beef and cabbage are considered St. Patricks Day... Read More

In the parental quest to raise a good and decent human being, have you considered ways to ignite empathy in your child? Many parenting experts believe having empathy is essential to becoming the best person you can be: kind, caring, respectful, and tolerant. Studies show that teens are 40 percent less empathetic today compared to 30 years ago. According to educational psychologist and author Dr. Michele Borba, this lack of empathy trend in kids gets in the way of collaboration, innovation, and problem-solving. You can only... Read More

For many Colorado families, winter means bundling up for outdoor play, snuggling around a cozy fireplace, and entertaining ourselves indoors with board games. But winter also signals cold and flu season, and currently, our state is experiencing the brunt of it. According to recent data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, 2,054 people have been hospitalized for the flu since the beginning of the 2018-19 season. Flu season started in early October, peaks in February, and will end around April. Avoid... Read More