Nursery: an elevated view of a calling that requires you to sit on the floor.

Some people are perpetually called to serve in the youth…

The Wrinkle About Time

“Cherish these days because the time…” Let me stop you…

The Art of Lost and Found

Mom is the only person in my house who can…

Hazing Into Motherhood

There’s absolutely no place for hazing in a civilized society!…

A Safe Place to Crumble

Some call them growing pains. At best it’s an episode,…

Another Man in My Life

If we’re being completely honest, until recently, I’ve always been…

Elect Ladies: Why Moms Might Not Be Elected

Calvin and Hobbes is a reading staple around here, categorized…

Putting the Home in Homeostasis

Hmmm…my life in less than 100 words? This sort of…

Confessions of a Gospel Doctrine Teacher

Trial and error, fasting and prayer. For me, the last…

True or False? My Tweens are the Last on Planet Earth to Get Cell Phones

Pop quiz. True or False? My 14 and 12 year…

The 10 Commandments of Toilet Training

“He’s doing it again! He’s pooping his pants behind the…

Party of Nine, Your Table’s Dirty

If I were say, a realtor, and had to describe…

50 Shades of Blue

Paint colors. Choosing our children's names wasn't this hard.

Happy Campers

Ive never really understood camping. Lets spend money on all…

Why I chose to live a “double life”

For whatever reason, call it faith, naivet, clinical psychosis, I…

Punctuating Parenthood

Why Won’t Essential Oils and I mix?

"A drop or two of this in the back of…

Feeling overwhelmed? Just unload the dishwasher.

If the daily grind of a messy house is like…

“Dear Mr. Daylight Savings”

"If I may have a word. I'm sure you had…

A Grinch Can’t steal Valentine’s Day

Say Yes to the Mess

From Anger to Bliss in Two Seconds Flat

All little boys love to wrestle. My boys are no…

Weighing in on New Year’s Eve. Literally.

The living room looks so much larger without the tree.…

My Kindergartner Became a Deacon

Confession: I tailed the school bus all the way to…

Help, My Two-Year-Old is Acting TWO!

My little girl-so-cute is two. Very two. Of the scream-hit-kick…

What’s your favorite sound?

Finally a moment of peace and quiet and all I…

Finding Your Talents

Nice smile. Good friend. Fun to be with. These were…

Is “Crap” a Swear?

Classifying bad words and choosing your battles.

One day at a time

13,140 meals cooked, 22,812 diapers changed, One overwhelming job being…

Primary program: a payday for parents

Sometimes it's the smallest things that make us feel the…

Hair Do’s and Don’ts

"What'd you do that for?" Those aren't exactly the words…

Back-to-School-The True New Year

With back-to-school comes new resolutions to get the kids in…

Siblings without Rivalry

When people ask me about the new baby, hey often…

Potty-Training D-Day

I said this would be the last box of diapers--and…

If You Give a Mom a New Baby

I've often said, the hardest part of having a new…

The Mysteries of Time, Space and Pregnancy

How is it that in pregnancy the last month can…

A Whole Week without My Smart Phone!

The "trauma" that follows drowning your smart phone.

Don’t Like the Sound of Your Voice?

Sometimes it doesn't take much for confidence to drop.

Two is Very, Very Extra-Ordinary

The greatest part about a two year old's psyche is…

Learning to Let Go

I immediately throw away those tiny super bouncy balls you…

11 Steps to a Much Needed Vacation

11 steps to planning, executing, enjoying, and surviving a vacation…

We Needed Another Hour

The next time a well-meaning soul sees me with my…

Is Your Name Cool?

Proper nouns I will not be bestowing upon my unborn…

A Few Words on Pets by a Pregnant Mother

I wish I could say this afternoon was my first…

Call Me Maybe

Pop Quiz: When Jonathan Swift's Gulliver travels to the land…

Improve the Shining Moments

This is the first time in years I've attempted to…

And Then I Don’t Feel So Bad: Beating the January Doldrums

After the excitement of Christmas and before the fun of…

Six Cheers

If I had round-the-clock video surveillance inside my home, you…

Fire-Breathing Dragons and Other Christmas Traditions

What does a fire breathing dragon named Darcy have to…

Adventures in Babies

Adventurous. That's what I needed to prove to my eleven…

Fatdog. It’s a Verb.

Fatdog: fat-dog. Verb. 1.) To laze about in a soporific…

A Piece of Thankful Pie

When I feel overwhelmed by conflicting theories on how to…

Let it Snow (if the power is on)

I thought the day would be all "Little House" snug…

Cutting Out the Middle Man

I overheard Dora the Explorer tell my kids about some…

Oh Shoot: Clicking the Family Christmas Card Photo

I knelt down on the carpet of leaves, anxious to…

Messy, Little Packages

Many of the best things in life are little. Teeny…

True Meanings

"Mom, could you make me some Cock-a-doodle soup?" "Some what?"…

Real Simple

I hate to use the phrase "simpler times" because having…

Having a Costume Ball

Maybe it's because I'm determined to make my life harder…

Age of Innocence

Years ago, when my oldest was four, he had a…

Just

"Just" is embedded into the text of almost every instructional…

When Will the Timer Beep and Other Questions I Know the Answers To

My 4 year old tapped his toe, waiting for his…

What I Did This Summer Report

School starts tomorrow. Tomorrow. Which means- We did it! We…

Bumps, Spills and Cuts, Oh My!

My poor, poor baby. In just the last 72 hours…

It’s I’m-bored-itis Season!

"All there is to do around here is read or…

30 Days to a Better Mother

Focus on the positive, no criticisms whatsoever, and keep at…

On Your Mark, Get Set, Glow

I don't know the 17-year-old swimming phenom Missy Franklin from…

Service or Servant, a Mother’s Dilemma

Our 15 month old likes to have her slender fairy-like…

Helpful Hints for a Better Summer

I love getting forwarded those emails featuring long laundry lists…

The Ins and Outs of Cleaning-Out

Children sloshed copious amounts of cereal all over the kitchen.…

Sibling’s Without Rivalry (at least that’s the goal)

I had to illustrate my point to the children, so…

Sibling’s Without Rivalry (at least that’s the goal)

I had to illustrate my point to the children, so…

Drained

I have been able to solve a number of problems…

Elect Ladies–Why Moms Aren’t Elected

I can't tell you how relieved I am to know…

One Ring to Rule Them All…

"Andy, put that away!" I hissed. "Church is not the…

It’s Not Easy Going Green

I feel like such a fraud checking out with my…

Homemade Lego Table

My husband's ingenious solution to the (dramatic pause) Lego Problem.…

How to Make Chores Look Attractive

"Where was the last place you had it?" "The Lazy-boy.…

How Did We Miss Church?

All combed and coiffed, pressed and polished, we moseyed up…

Do You Feel Pretty?

"I sure do like your shirt. Where did your mommy…

All Aboard the SS Summer Fun!

All aboard! Summer is waltzing up the gangplank and I…

That’s What I Get for Going to Women’s Conference

Is that hardened chocolate syrup smeared across the baby's high…

Basking in Life’s Little Victories

There are no performance reviews, raises, or opportunities for promotions…

The Lost and Found

I've lost my keys and a library DVD. I'm convinced…

Gameboys in the Classroom? A Mother’s Dilemma

As a reward for good behavior, my daughter's class was…

Confessions of a Nursery Leader

"Are you my mommy?" Who in the world stashed this…

Do You Have a Favorite Child?

According to Time magazine, all parents have a favorite child.…

Trouble with Your Three Year Old? Don’t Get Mad, Feign Madness!

This isn't advice you'll hear from Dr. Sears or read…

Husband Away on Business? No Problem!

My husband gets to take clients out to dinner and…

The Notebook

During the closing hymn,my daughter handed me a note. Apparently,…

Hear Her Roar

"What were you going to do if a boy did…

Burying Weapons of War for Peace

I'm not so sure those weapons buried in the Book…

Face Time

There is something almost tangible about watching children on film.…

Down and Derby

With fresh varnish fumes still stinging their eyes, they've declared…

Sunday Night Visits

What I say to my Mom on our Sunday night…

A Good Baby

There is no such thing as a bad baby, but…

Flipped

Flip-flop is one of those expressions that bothers me, (kinda…

That’s a Wrap!

It's a 30 day holiday, you know. A full 30…

My Little Guacamole

My baby is actually under doctor's orders to gain weight!

Christmas Crunch

It's 11:30 at night, dishes and I just ordered a…

Giving Heroes

I have a hard time believing the economy is still…

Let There Be Light! (And a furnace)

I cried tears of joy when I heard that big…

A Traditional Holiday

And so it begins...The turkey's been picked clean, the tree…

Thanks for Thanksgiving

I asked the children how they would feel about a…

Ultimate Fan-hood

"You're so beautiful," I tell my child, to which he…

Snow White

I will never look at snow the same way again.

Things that Go Rumble in the Night

It's a big day when your youngest finally learns to…

Trash Talker

A cold-hearted mother who relegates precious artwork to the trash…

A Few Good Moms

Somebody has to carry children to term, feed them, rock…

And My Mother Dwelt in a Tent

King Benjamin's people had nothing over this Mom with a…

The Best Two Years

The first two years of motherhood are eerily reminiscent of…

One Good Meal

"Welcome to how 90% of the rest of the world…

Where The Hearth Is

Maybe I was being naive. I thought that when we…

Out of Circulation

Judging by today's title, you might assume today's column is…

On the Road Again

What did we do before DVD players in cars?

Are You Talking to Me?

Ear buds are blossoming everywhere at my house, but not…

Back-to-School Ready or Not

I didn't find out until I was an adult that…

Confessions of a Primary Chorister

Oh, how can I get those 11 year old boys…

Cleaning Out Karma

My mother always says, "My house looks fabulous if I…

Why I Banned Barbie

To Barbie, or not to Barbie. That is the question.

My 4th of July

I know it was super hot and muggy in that…

My New Bio

My mother is a wonderful, self-appointed editor. She takes it…

Is That a Threat?

"Fine! Then I won't invite you to my birthday party!"--…

My Hover Craft

Hovering is a very tricky craft. Every parent hovers to…

Raised by Giants

I've found that when people bring you a meal, they…

A Cold Front

In the grand scheme of things, a bad hair day…

Furniture Envy

When prices get in a 3-digit range, my palms get…

Base Camp

If my perpetual mounting mass of laundry could be compared…

How Does Your Garden Grow?

How hard can gardening be? After all, in kindergarten I…

My Rocking Chair

Wonderful things happen from the perch of a rocking chair.

Oh Bother

Ready to deliver, Margaret has found a cartoon character she…

Limitations and Provisos

I can diffuse many a pickle by simply putting an…

That Van-O-Mine

Remnants of the snacks from last summer's trip may still…

The Sick Cycle

There's a predictable cycle of events that happen when your…

Weather Vain

Just when we were taking trips to the park again.…

What’s in a Name?

At the moment I am pouring over baby name books…

Miss Manners

What ever happened to good, old-fashioned manners?

Quick and Dirty

I've found a great, new way to clean the house-if…

Dirty Little Secret

Once when my daughter came home from a play date,…

High Bars

As it turns out, our parental lectures have not fallen…

Lego Blues

I have a love-hate relationship with my sons' favorite toys-Legos-because…

Friendly Food

No matter how much you try to please the palate…

TV Troubles

The TV is broken and now is the great debate-to…

The Ultimate Internship

Motherhood is like one very long, very unpaid internship from…

Maid for Each Other

My daughter has a new maid. He's four, he's fast,…

Order in the Court

Possession is nine tenths of the law. To put it…

Free Days

Right now I have the same feeling I had back…

Fit for Battle

"You know, funny thing about getting fat is..." "Pregnant, honey.…

Can You Keep a Secret?

Secrets at Christmas time are tough for little ones to…

Mine

My sweet, darling baby boy has learned the words "NO!"…

Techno Savvy

I'm determined not to give in to an electronic Christmas…

My Precious

It's happened. I've joined the world of the electronically living.

It Takes a Congregation

If you had taken a good look at my children…

Kitchen Espionage

There is a Picky Eater Monster who dares to haunt…

Just Peachy

My daughter got a pet. It's my kind of pet.…

The Phantom Menace

A family tradition may seem like a pain in the…

The Frig-I-Dare

What is lurking in your refrigerator? Do you have the…

True Fans

What some Latter-day Saint wives fear is a husband who's…

And the Little One Said, “Roll Over”

Some way or another, about once a month, in the…

Poor Man Presents

"No, Mom. We're sick of giving 'poor man presents.' Why…

Worked Out and Worked Up

How did elementary school age kids already become so body…

Comeuppance

When it comes to raising children, what goes around comes…

Double Trouble

One photo tells it all. The baby with the innocent…

Camptown Lady

I love camping-or at least I thought I did until…

Raising Vigilantes

"But Mom! Is it ever okay to hit? What about…

Carpet Rides

My four-year-old just spilled a 44-ounce berry smoothie all over…

Save the Date

From her six-year-old: "Oh, I'm so glad I don't ever…

Racing Tees

I have finally figured out why there is no mommy-thon.

Places, Everyone! Places!

My husband is coming home today! Time to muster the…

Unnecessary Roughness

There is something therapeutic about making home made bread-you can…

Club Mom

The dues of the best club in the world don't…