Introversion and Extroversion are likely the oldest and most widely discussed constructs in personality theories. Introverts tend to be reserved, quiet, and more comfortable alone. They are more sensitive to external stimuli and need time away from this in order to function well. Extroverts, on the other hand, tend to be expressive, outgoing, … [Read more...] about How Introverts Can Successfully Practice Hospitality
Easy DIY Puppet Theater from a Cardboard Box
Cardboard boxes, especially large ones, are wonderful “toys” for kids! I can recall several occasions during my childhood when we had large boxes from new appliances and similar items. We would play for hours while pretending these were all sorts of things (houses, rockets, etc.). Though I’m a mom now, I still love large cardboard … [Read more...] about Easy DIY Puppet Theater from a Cardboard Box
How Parental Screen Time Impacts Kids
We’ve been talking about screen time over the last few weeks. We began by looking at the research on how screen time impacts the cognitive and language development of young kids. Then, keeping this information in mind, we discussed realistic screen time guidelines for kids. Amid all the research and recommendations regarding kids’ … [Read more...] about How Parental Screen Time Impacts Kids
Superior Chicken Noodle Soup
There’s nothing quite like a warm bowl of chicken noodle soup to comfort the body and the soul. I’ve had a couple of rough weeks, so I could use some comfort. I happen to be making dinner for friends who just welcomed their third child, so they could likely use some comfort, too. My favorite way to prepare chicken noodle soup is akin to … [Read more...] about Superior Chicken Noodle Soup
5 Things I’ve Learned from Watching My Parents Interact with My Kids
We recently had the pleasure of having my parents visit for a little over a week. My kids adore their Grandma and Mebop (their name for grandpa), so it’s always special when we can all be together. As I watched my parents interact with my kids during this last visit, I realized that there are a number of life lessons that I can learn … [Read more...] about 5 Things I’ve Learned from Watching My Parents Interact with My Kids
Dads Feel Stress, Too
A couple of weeks before Mother’s Day, I shared some research findings on things that cause stress for moms. Of course, moms aren’t the only ones who experience stress. Our male counterparts also experience considerable parenting-related stress. Interestingly, when I began looking into this topic, I didn’t find any survey findings or … [Read more...] about Dads Feel Stress, Too
Realistic Screen Time Guidelines for Kids
Two weeks ago we looked at the research on how screen time impacts young kids. Based on the research findings, I feel pretty confident saying that it is a good idea for us to limit how much time our kids spend in front of screens (watching TV, using apps on tablets, playing video games, etc.). Exactly how much we should limit this … [Read more...] about Realistic Screen Time Guidelines for Kids
Healthier Spinach Artichoke Dip
As far as appetizers and snacks are concerned, spinach artichoke dip isn’t that unhealthy. After all, it contains a couple of veggies! However, you consume about a billion calories when you eat traditional varieties of it, so I’ve been tinkering with my spinach artichoke dip recipe in order to decrease how many calories it contains and … [Read more...] about Healthier Spinach Artichoke Dip
