Local resources for new parents

Becoming a parent is one of the most amazing experiences, but it can also be overwhelming and even a little scary. I can relate. I just had my third child and have found myself try... Read More

Caring For Our Kids

Raising musical kids

By Maryann LoRusso

We’ve all read the statistics. Kids who play an instrument perform better in school, score higher in math and English tests, and may even be more successful in life than thei... Read More

Caring For Our Kids

Bouncing back after baby

By Maryann LoRusso

Here’s something I don’t easily admit, especially not to thousands of newspaper readers. A few weeks after giving birth to my second child, I found myself walking down ... Read More

Caring For Our Kids

Is your family ready to adopt a new dog?

Make the necessary puppy preparations

By Maryann LoRusso

My friends were shocked when I told them I’d adopted a puppy. For years, as my husband and kids campaigned for a pet, I argued adamantly about how dogs were too much work, to... Read More

Caring For Our Kids

Halloween by the bay

By Maryann LoRusso

Halloween is one of my favorite seasons in San Francisco. When I first moved here from New York almost a decade ago, I was impressed by how seriously Bay Area residents take this h... Read More

Caring For Our Kids

Preparing for a new baby

A three-step process for helping children accept a new sibling

By Liz Farrell

September is commonly a time for new transitions, mostly for our children as they head back to school. For the past several years, I have written about ways to ease those back-to-s... Read More

Caring For Our Kids

Finding the Olympic spirit

By Liz Farrell

The Olympic spirit is in the air, and even though we are thousands of miles away from where the games will take place, there are still many great ways to cheer on Team USA. Even as... Read More

Caring For Our Kids

Avoiding summer brain damage: Activities to keep your kids thinking

By Liz Farrell

When I think about summer, it’s about fun in the sun, taking a break from the school routine, and just enjoying a slower pace. I was surprised recently when I heard the term ... Read More

Caring For Our Kids

Fun ways to celebrate with your family this Father’s Day

By Liz Farrell

Father’s day is Sunday, June 17 — just a few weeks away. It always comes at a crazy time of year when school is ending and summer routines are starting. I feel lucky th... Read More

Caring For Our Kids

Fun ways to celebrate with your family this Father’s Day

By Liz Farrell

Father’s day is Sunday, June 17 — just a few weeks away. It always comes at a crazy time of year when school is ending and summer routines are starting. I feel lucky th... Read More

Caring For Our Kids

Lice: A rite of passage?

By Liz Farrell

Lice. Just the thought makes me itch. Hearing parents with young children talk about them, I thought that experience would be one of my worst nightmares. When my daughter started k... Read More

Caring For Our Kids

Don’t fear downtime

By Liz Farrell

It is very rare to find a children’s book that has a message equally as strong for the child and the parent. The book is A Moment of Quiet is Nothing to Fear, written by Chri... Read More

At Home, Caring For Our Kids

Summer camp, already?

By Liz Farrell

It is hard to believe it’s not even spring yet and the buzz has already started about summer camp. The flyers have started coming in the mail, e-mails with summer camp inform... Read More

Caring For Our Kids