Sick Day Challenge
Whether or not to send a self-reported sick child to school may be the most difficult decision in all of parentdom. We’re not talking about the puking, feverish, or spot-covered child. That’s an easy...
View ArticleEngaged Couples Should Talk Before They Walk
A recent poll by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) revealed that 68 percent of respondents held negative attitudes toward discussing money with their fiancé, with five percent...
View ArticleBreakfast In Bed
One of my fondest mom memories is of my 7-year-old daughter and her still toddling brother standing at the bedroom doorway with a half-spilled bowl of cereal balanced on a cookie sheet covered in...
View ArticleGrowing Up Online: The Pros and Cons of Anonymous Social Media
Keeping secrets is part of growing up. Deciding what you’ll tell people about yourself—and others—is one way children develop an understanding of privacy and trust. With Facebook and other forms of...
View ArticleBe a More Playful Parent
Parenting is serious business, and it can be overwhelming at times. It can also be a whole lot of fun if you find ways to sneak some play into your day. You don’t have to shirk grown-up...
View ArticleThe History and Mystery of Popular Wishing Customs
As the Disney song from “Pinocchio” goes, “When you wish upon a star, your dreams come true.” While most people recognize wishes are not magically granted, the process is a wonderful way to identify...
View ArticleCreating a Lovely Morning
When I wake in the morning, my mind slowly gathers, and I begin to move, the early morning light just starting to seep in. I have a glass of water, start the coffee, then meditate. Then I enjoy the...
View ArticleWhat’s in a Name?
By Gary Wolsky, President/CEO The Village Family Service Center Someone recently asked me where we came up with our name, “The Village Family Service Center.” That question prompted me to write this...
View ArticleDon’t Bug Me
I remember the afternoon when one of our girls, a toddler at the time, brought me a treasure from our yard, clutched in her chubby hand. Holding her fist up to my face, she opened it to reveal a...
View ArticleA Noble Quest
An open letter to a friend and soon-to-be father… Dear Jared, We’ve become pretty good friends over the past year and a half working together at The Village. We’re kind of kindred souls in a way—two...
View ArticleVroom! Vroom! Helping Teens Get Their Own Set of Wheels
Everyone remembers their first car. Whether it was a hand-me-down beater or a shiny, new thing, those first teenage adventures behind the wheel of your very own car were a very big deal. Finally…you...
View ArticleThe Emotional Side of Infertility
I buried my face in my hands and wept. Another year had gone by and still no baby. After two rounds of in vitro fertilization, three cycles of Clomid, and five years of trying for a baby, all I had to...
View ArticleBirds and Bees, Pretty Please! An Age-By-Age Guide to “The Talk”
If the thought of talking about sex with your kids makes you sweat bullets, you’re not alone. More than half of parents haven’t discussed sex with their preteen, according to research from the Kaiser...
View ArticlePrenuptial Agreements: They’re Just for Rich People, Right?
Prenuptial agreements have an image problem. We think they’re unromantic and, on that score, it’s hard to argue. However, other perceptions are not as accurate. Take these, for example: “A prenuptial...
View ArticleLoathe It? Leave It! 5 Simple Steps for Switching Banks
Are rude tellers and outrageous fees among your bank’s claims to fame? Enough already! You shouldn’t have to put up with that. There are plenty of other fish, er, banks, in the sea waiting for your...
View ArticleStrong Values Strengthen a Community
By Gary Wolsky, President/CEO The Village Family Service Center In May, a very quiet but remarkable thing happened in Fargo that, once again, sets us apart in a very positive way from a plague of...
View ArticleThe Eye Roll Gold Medalist
Moms like to brag about their kids. It’s a given. It starts with how long the mother labored and how much her baby weighed. It moves on to the first tooth, earliest walker, and those who potty trained...
View ArticleThe Bad of Being Dad
Being a dad is awesome except for the parts that aren’t. What are those parts that stink? Here’s a list: 1. The mountains of plastic crud – After a few Christmases, birthdays, and trips to Chuck E....
View ArticleRecognizing Fake News
Learning to distinguish between reliable and bogus information is a crucial skill in the 21st century. For a brief time, it seemed search engines might help people zero in on accurate, well-researched...
View ArticleWhen Your Child Hates School
As a parent of children in high school, middle school, and elementary school, it is not unusual to hear the following comments from my children: “I just don’t want to go to school today.” “I had a bad...
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