One of my sons wants to be a plumber at Disneyland when he grows up.
That’s a very specific job. Does the Happiest Place on Earth have in-house uncloggers? Probably. With thousands of mouse-earred visitors a day, the pipes and drains of the park must be tremendously strained.
Because we want to show our son [...]

1. She’s held Rosie.
2. He’s poured half a bottle of honey on a Casa Bonita sopapilla.
3. She skied before she lost her first tooth.
4. He’s endured stories of Elitches before it was Six Flags before it was Elitches.
5. One day, they are wearing shorts and romping at the park. The next [...]

So much of parenting entails thwarting.
I must thwart my toddler’s attempts to travel staircases and wade in toilets. I do this with gates, latches, and other inventions meant to keep small children safe and properly frustrated.
I take away the cordless phone, which is often left on a low table. Everyone knows a story [...]

The Children’s Museum struts, waddles, flaps, and soars into the month of March with new theme—All About Animals.
It’s nearly impossible to find a toddler or preschooler who doesn’t appreciate furry and feathery friends. I took my two youngest children to explore some of the animal-themed activities knowing none of us would leave disappointed. One [...]

It was a Monday morning. We were getting ready for another grueling school week. The kids were moaning about the injustice of heavy backpacks and state laws.
I told them I went to school and survived. Put your shoes on, spit-spot.
My oldest son asked how many years I spent in school. I told him 20 years—13 [...]

Families with many children and families with one child have a lot in common. As a mom with many, I feel a special bond with moms of only children.
I understand what it’s like to field deeply personal questions about reproductive habits, fertility, and ethical and spiritual beliefs while waiting for library story time to [...]

“Hey, Sam!” the group of boys yelled at my son as he climbed in our van after school.
He turned, “Yeah?”
One of them asked, “Is that your mom or your daycare?”
“My mom.”
The three boys started laughing. Sam shrugged and climbed into his seat, having no idea why someone would confuse his mother for [...]