Author Archives: Sarah Short

Raising a Polite Child

TIPS FOR TEACHING KIDS MANNERS “Please; thank you; how do you do?” In our fast-paced, increasingly casual society, little marks of courtesy make a big impression. Every mother wants to raise a child to grow up into a kind, considerate, happy person comfortable in the society around them. Here are some tips for raising a […]

Greek Easter Bread Recipe

CREATING AN EGG-CELLENT TREAT FOR THE FAMILY It’s always a dilemma in my house as to what to do with the dyed Easter eggs after the holiday is over. We hate to break the coverings that we so lovingly designed, and while they decorate the inside of our refrigerator nicely, I wondered for years whether […]

Mom putting daughter to bed

Tired Tales at Bedtime

ONE DAD’S BEDTIME STORIES FOR HIS DAUGHTERS “Can’t we have separate stories?” My 8-year-old daughter, Marie, lay on one side of me in the darkness. Her little sister Sally, age 5, lay on the other side. “Sorry,” I said, “tomorrow’s a school day, and it’s late already.” But I understood her problem. My stories are […]

young family with new baby

Sweet Baby Sounds

NEWBORN CRIES & FLEETING MOMENTS IN TIME A stranger’s passing comment kept pulling me back to the person I used to be. It would materialize in my mind, usually at significant events like birthdays. But sometimes, it would emerge at the mere sight of a baby, especially if I heard the crying. The sound of […]

Striped diaper bag for toddler, mom supplies for being on the go with everything your child needs from snacks and diapers to toys and first aid.

Diaper Bag Checklist

PACKING LISTS FOR BABY, TODDLER & MOM, ALL-IN-ONE The digital age has unburdened us from the physical heft of books, stereos and cameras. But for new moms, there is no clever device or app that can replace the diaper bag. Until someone figures that out, consider your diaper bag to be your parenting comrade-in-arms. Think Gary […]

You & Your Little Yogi

YOGA POSES FOR EVERYONE IN THE FAMILY There are few absolute truths in life, but as a parent, I feel I can say one of them is that Charlottesville’s a great place to raise children. With the constant streaming of young families, this area boasts a huge number of resources and services that cater to […]

Mom and daughter making soup

Three Hearty Soup Recipes

3 HEARTY SOUPS TO HELP YOUR FAMILY THROUGH THE WINTER Busy families need plenty of healthy soup and stew recipes to make it through the winter. This chicken or turkey soup puts leftovers to good use. The beef stew recipe is so good that it makes a tasty featured dish at any gathering. And, split […]

Snow Tubing Fun

7 PLACES FOR SNOW TUBING IN VIRGINIA Take advantage of the cold wintry weather in Virginia by visiting one of our region’s popular snow tube parks or ski centers. Our area has several winter resorts that offer family-friendly snow tubing just an hour or two away. If you need a bit more snow to play […]

Pregnant mom at holiday dinner, winter vaccinations

Expecting a Baby This Winter?

TAKE STEPS TO PROTECT YOUR NEWBORN AGAINST RESPIRATORY ILLNESS Respiratory illnesses like the Flu, COVID-19 and RSV tend to rise as cooler temperatures bring people indoors and as they gather for the holidays. Thankfully, there are new tools available this year to help families keep severe illnesses at bay. This year’s Flu and COVID-19 vaccines […]

Essential Oils That Repel Ticks

LOCAL EXPERT ADVICE AND EASY IDEAS TO HELP REPEL TICKS & MOSQUITOES Warmer weather is here, meaning more time outside with the pesky insects that live there. As we all begin to spend more time in nature, sunscreen and bug spray are musts. Did you know essential oils can also help repel things like ticks and […]