Ages + Stages

WordPlay is an eclectically decorated storefront in the Northside neighborhood near Cincinnati State on Hamilton Avenue. Its large windows are filled with sunshine that throws shadows over the typewriters that are also for sale.  Claw-foot bathtubs filled with pillows...

Recently, I started re-reading the Ramona books with my 8-year-old daughter. I have revisited many books from my childhood but I was so surprised to find how well those books have stood the test of time. I could not...

I am the kind of mom who lets my kids play hooky sometimes. Hooky from school, hooky from responsibilities, even hooky from homework sometimes. I mean, everybody needs a little mental vacation from the daily grind, am I right? Growing...

My son is in 3rd grade. He lives for chances to give all of his classmates something. He has a summer birthday, and while I send birthday treats in close to the end of the year, I always try...

Christmas, birthdays, and holidays in general, are changing a lot in my household. It has always been about making the most of these big days. Presents, decorations, and making things extra special was all that mattered to us. One thing...

"How do I even know when it's time to take my baby to the dentist? "Should they sleep with a bottle?" Do they really need to brush their teeth for two FULL minutes? I can't even get them to...

My two children are toddlers (2 and 3) so the back to school frenzy doesn't really apply to our children, however, my husband is a teacher so it applies to our family. I'm starting to prep my kids in going...

Have you seen all those sweet, sentimental lists that are now all over the Internet of things to enjoy about your children before they grow up? All of those things you want to teach them before the angst of...

Recently, I took my eight and a half year old to her annual checkup, and her pediatrician started going through the usual questions of whether she ever worried about not having enough food at home, anything bad or scary...

Things are going well in my life. I turn 46 soon and my 3 boys are up and running like the dreamy kids I always wanted before I took the plunge and got married. We are 19 years into a...