Spring Break Safety Tips

Nervous about your student going on a spring break trip? You are not alone. College students may be ready for some fun and relaxation, but parents worry about the “What ifs?” and the choices students will make during break.  Here are some tips to share with your student before they go: Be mindful about what you share on social media

The Bath Bomb

Rubber duckie. Check. Bubbles. Check. Little Mermaid wash cloth. Check. Pink Disney teapot and tiny teacups. Check and check. There we were, mother and daughter, splashing together in the bathtub. She was barely two and I was, well, old enough to be her mother. As she carefully measured and poured and chattered on about princesses and puppies and preschool, I

Be a Better YOU! Three Weeks to Healthy Habits

When our daughter Brooke was a tot, she loved me a lot. I mean she really loved me and couldn’t function unless I was within a four-foot radius of her tiny body. No doors could separate us. Ever. Gone were my days of peeing alone. When I tried to leave the room, she would cling to my leg like a

#RealLifeWonderWoman — Meet Hannah Lucas

I first learned about today’s #RealLifeWonderWoman when I saw an article written about how she and her brother created an app to help kids in crisis. The notOK app is essentially a panic button that sends a text to trusted contacts when a user needs support. But it was the story behind the story that made me want to meet

PARENTS AS PARTNERS FOR STUDENT SUCCESS

Parents of college students and future college students: I have terrific news for you! Your students are in good hands. Please, let me explain… I recently had the opportunity to attend a conference for an association of higher ed parent and family program professionals. Who are they, you ask? What do they do? These are the staff on your students’

Winter break survival skills for parents of college students

Winter break is almost here. It’s the time of year when parents eagerly anticipate their college students returning home. They have visions of sugar plums and expectations of Norman Rockwell-like family moments—gathering around the fireplace, playing games, telling stories and eating popcorn. They will be disappointed. Winter break is often the first time students return home for an extended period

#RealLifeWonderWoman – Meet Lisa Erwin

I sat down in the auditorium for a parent orientation session–this time not as the keynote speaker or college parenting expert, but as a mom. A mom who was launching her youngest child. A mom who knows all-too-well the bittersweet feeling of letting go. Then SHE walked on the stage, her warm smile and bright eyes calming the nervous parents

I do.

“I do.” 2 words. Simple. Powerful. Full of promise, excitement and oozing with love when I spoke them exactly 24 years ago as a young bride. Wow! Twenty-four years is a looooong time. That’s a lot of ups and downs and in-betweens for two people to experience together! To celebrate our 24th anniversary, here are twelve observations I’ve made about

How do I keep my college student safe?

You survived move-in day. Your student is engaging in college life. You are at home missing the flurry of activities and perhaps even the backpack on the hallway floor or the dirty dishes on the counter. Even though you are excited for your child, that doesn’t mean you don’t worry. You’ve seen awful news stories and heard of kids making

#RealLifeWonderWoman–Meet Shannan Younger

I met today’s #RealLifeWonderWoman through professional channels. She’s a talented writer and the founder of the website betweenusparents.com. Shannan believes parenting, and life in general, is better when you have a sense of humor, a dose of perspective, and some good hard facts. This Midwestern mom and recent Jeopardy contestant is active in both politics and parenting. I recently caught up