Though Father’s Day wasn’t glorious and sunny, the rain held off until 7 p.m., leaving plenty of time for local dads to enjoy the outdoors with their families. My family celebrated with food and sports. We prepared a fancy quiche brunch for my husband. Then we headed to my dad’s house for a barbecue feast. We cheered as the Indians swept the Pirates and Rory McIlroy won the U.S. Open. To end the day, we kicked back in the garage to watch the downpour. Emily Holody spent Father’s Day with her husband, Jonathan, and their two daughters, Josie and Mae. They prepared a big brunch at home and …

Expecting your first child is an incredible experience. Motherhood will forever change a woman’s life, in amazing and unimaginable ways. Dr. Kelly Gallagher, Clinic Director of Advanced Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Cuyahoga Falls, is pregnant with her first child. Gallagher exudes the sweet glow of an expectant mother. She just reached the eighth month mark, so her due date is fast approaching. Gallagher said of her pregnancy, “I have enjoyed the anticipation of our first child and the excitement my husband Mike and I share about starting our family. Shopping and decorating have also …

My son recently obtained his temporary driving permit. After he passed the test, we went to Keyser Park to practice. He cautiously maneuvered around the dog park parking lot to become acquainted with my car. I sat in the passenger’s seat in disbelief, remembering the little guy who used to ride in the backseat. He was strapped in his car seat the first time he strung together the beautiful sentence, I love you, momma. No longer a little boy, he’s a young man ready to take on the road. Of course, I’m worried. At 17, I was the victim of a hit-and-run drunk driver. Intoxicated, reckless and …

I have a confession. I‘ve watched The Real Housewives of various cities. The shows are the epitome of a guilty pleasure for me. I tally the time spent and try not to calculate the chapters I could have written or read. Even so, I tune in for another episode. Why do I spend my time watching these spectacles? It’s not because I admire these women. I wouldn’t trade lives with them for anything, not even money and fame. (Though a million dollar cookbook or memoir deal would be sweet). In my real life, I avoid turmoil. So, in other words, I’d make an incredibly boring reality housewife. I suppose …

Mom Guilt is an insidious affliction with many triggers. Most moms are familiar with the sting it causes. It is an unfortunate side effect of motherhood, and if left untreated, the condition can lead to a full-blown case of Worry Warts. One common strain of the syndrome is Working Mom Guilt. Symptoms can arise when the demands of their jobs and families intersect and vie for attention. Moms feel torn between their dueling roles and suffer from guilt as a result. Technology can be a curse and a blessing to working moms. The TODAY Show recently aired a segment on the topic of technology and …

Mayim Bialik—better known as Blossom from the sitcom of the ‘90s—is the spokesperson for the non-profit organization Holistic Moms Network and contributor for TODAY Moms. In a recent post, Bialik discussed her family’s sleeping arrangements. Bialik and her husband have slept on futons with their two children since they were born. She dismissed concerns about family bed-sharing and claimed the practice is not dangerous. There is no question Bialik is an educated woman—with a Ph.D. in neuroscience—and a dedicated mother. But sleep authority? I wasn’t convinced. I contacted Sherry Blair, project…

I enjoyed playing Easter Bunny when my son was young. Each year, I chose a clever new spot to hide his treat-filled basket. I reveled in his delight as he chased colorful eggs across our lawn and discovered the surprises tucked inside. I never thought of the Easter Bunny as a fib, though I stressed the virtue of honesty with my son. How did I miss the glaring contradiction? I went to great lengths to ensure his belief in the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus. Let’s be honest, I lied. When my son was in elementary school, he blurted out the dreaded question: Mommy…is Santa real? I winced, looked …

In response to the 2008 petition from the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently met to discuss whether artificial food dyes cause hyperactivity in children and if food labels should warn of the possible link.   The advisory panel determined warning labels are unwarranted. The panel’s conclusion stated, “Based on our review of the data from published literature, FDA concludes that a causal relationship between exposure to color additives and hyperactivity in children in the general population has not been established.” The panel …

I’m a sucker for shows on The Learning Channel (TLC), so it’s no surprise I watched the first episodes of their new series, Extreme Couponing. The program documents the shopping strategies of bargain-savvy families. Their money-saving techniques involve a major investment of time and energy. Cameras followed J’amie, a hard-core couponer who took six hours to prepare for one trip to the grocery store. She used a methodical system to organize her list and 2,500 coupons. After the meticulous selection of each item in her haul, J’amie steered four carts through the checkout. Her pre-coupon total …

Last week, the Today Show aired a viral video of a lively “conversation” between adorable 17-month-old twins, Ren and Sam. While people may not have understood the toddlers, they seemed to communicate as they spoke and laughed in turn. The video raises the question: Is it common for twins to create their own language or form of communication? An informative article on the Talk About Twins Web site describes two distinct explanations for twin talk: “private language” and “shared understanding.” Karen Thorpe, Ph.D., explains the extreme difference between the two phenomena. Private language …