What used to be a season filled with joy, wonder, magic, and togetherness has become, for many parents, a season of stress that we can’t wait to end.There’s so much focus on looking like we have it all together instead of just being together. It’s time to stop the madness! Ditch these 5 things and be less stressed this holiday season.

As children grow and the family dynamics change, maintaining family traditions can be a challenge. The traditions outlined here can grow with your family so that you will enjoy them for all the years that your children are at home.

I remember as a child lying in bed on Christmas Eve night with eager anticipation, listening for the sound of hooves on my roof. I recall the joy and wonder of waking to find that the cookies had been eaten, the milk had been drunk, and a present awaited. The lights twinkled on the Christmas tree. The smell of dressing filled the home. Amidst the traditions of Christmas, I felt truly loved.

In a 2005 article by Bruce J. Ellis and W. Thomas Boyce, the researchers borrowed a Swedish term, orkidbarne, to name a surprising new concept in child development and genetics. Orkidbarne means orchid child, and describes children who are genetically sensitive. Unlike their counterparts, maskrosbarne, or the dandelion child, who are more psychologically resilient, orchid children are heavily affected by their home environments and the parenting they receive.

Life, as we all know, is not perfect. Relationships can be messy, and distance can grow between us for many different reasons. Though the fault may not entirely lie with us, it is our responsibility as the parent to heal the relationship and reconnect with our children.

In November, it’s common to express gratitude each day of the month with hashtags like #thankful on social media. In this spirit of this modern digital tradition, I've put together 30 days of journal prompts and acts of kindness for parents to try with their kids when you're offline.

Anger is a perfectly normal emotion, and learning to manage it appropriately is one key to emotional health and well-being. If your child is having frequent angry outbursts, it’s important to get to the root of the issue and teach them calming strategies that work.

I am fascinated by the cultural differences in parenting around the globe. I previously wrote a piece on the Danes and now I'm turning my attention to the land of my ancestors: Ireland.

The masks we wear not only make us look different, but they make us feel different. On a night where the shy child can feel like a butterfly and the bullied child can feel like a strong superhero, maybe a little more attention and intention should go into this year’s Halloween costume picks.

In our house, Halloween is a time for painting pumpkins, watching scary(ish) movies, and dressing up as the kids’ latest obsession (Lego minifigs, anyone?) for an evening of trick or treating, because who doesn’t love buckets of candy? Let’s take a look at how kids around the world celebrate Halloween.

Time and again, I see and hear advice to ignore children who are in emotional distress. There are several well-intended but poorly conceived intentions at play here that we need to address in order to bring compassion to our responses with our children.

When I was a child, I had an imaginary horse named Thunder, an imaginary black panther that could talk, and even an imaginary frenemy. I always assumed that I had so many imaginary companions because I was an only child, but it turns out I’ve just always had a vivid imagination.

While I’ll always advocate for slowing down and savoring those precious miracle moments with our loved ones, I understand that some days are just so packed that there are only a few spare minutes with which to connect with our kids. For those days, here are 15 ways to connect in just five minutes or less.

Parenting very often feels like a balancing act. It can be tricky to find the sweet spot between permissive and authoritarian, that ideal place that many experts refer to as authoritative.

Karate, Cub Scouts, baseball, and acting classes are just a few of the extracurricular activities that we have undertaken.

I’ve taught my children many, many things in my decade of parenting, but the lessons they’ve taught me are far greater and more valuable than I ever expected.

We often repeat the same phrases that we heard when we were children without giving them much thought. I think it’s always good to pause and reflect on the language we are using and if they are in line with our current values and family goals.

Helping our children develop a positive inner voice is one of the big jobs of parenting. It’s an easier job for parents with children who tend to be more optimistic, and more of a challenge for parents of kids who are naturally self-critical. We're all wired a bit differently, but there are things we can do to help.

It’s time to say goodbye to summer and hello to fall again. Fall is a wonderful time of year because the temperatures are mild, the foliage is beautiful, and there are plenty of opportunities for play! Here are 30 ideas to kick off fall the playful way.

More and more research is emerging on the link between happiness and creativity, and what researchers are finding is astounding.

What determines your happiness? Is it your bank account? Your health report? Your pants size? Your kid’s success? Guillaume Apollinaire famously said, “Now and then it’s good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy.” Today, let’s pause in our pursuit and check out these 8 mind-blowing facts that just might change how you think of happiness.