Mother’s laws of nature
Am I losing my mind or do the following Laws of Familial Physics occur universally in families around the globe?

Sweet sleep
There are so many things you look forward to when you’re pregnant.

Plunged into puberty
Brenda Benjamin doesn’t know who was more scared the day her 8-year-old daughter started her period.

I love Mamma
A few years ago, on what now seems like a different planet, I was a newspaper reporter writing about child and family issues.

Moms in motion

Aches and pains you didn't expect

Everyone is doing it

Last December, my then 5-year-old daughter begged me to get her ears pierced. After a lot of thought, I agreed.

Styling moms
It’s this season’s ultimate feel-good fashion tip: You don’t need an $800 handbag to be stylish.

Give yourself a break
I just discovered I taped over the video of the first year of my son’s life.

Letters
Kids need dads
Safety of the children
Growing up green
Make a visit to the library

Room for two?
My suburban town swings with minivans. At grocery stores and playgrounds they unload, three, four, five or more youngsters

Rocking out with our redheads
When Jack, our first child, was born with red hair we were pleasantly surprised.

Out and about
When Patricia Harris set out to fill a book with quotes by and about mothers, she worried she wouldn’t find enough.

Money ‘notes’ for every family
I have been following my own money advice for many years now.

Helmets a must for child’s safety
After one of our coldest and snowiest winters in recent memory, kids are finally back on their bikes, scooters,

Just a little off the top

The surest tip-off that times-are-a-changin’ was this simple statement: "Mom, I need a new comb,"

FAB mama
If you are looking for a few fun cards to send to your girlfriends for Mother’s Day,

Eating for yourself once again
Becoming a mother changes everything: our sleep, bodies, work schedule and relationship with our spouse.

A gift from the heart
Kids and dads out there, are you ready for Mother’s Day this year?

The importance of the past
Clarissa Minge never had a box of photos, a stack of report cards or even a family tree.

May flowers
Flowers bloom in May and remind us that Chicago isn’t the worst place to live after all.

Collecting pennies for peace
When an injured American mountaineer, being nursed back to health by villagers in Pakistan’s northern frontier providence,

Follow the herd
When Beth and Danny Tischler pack up their kids to visit their family-owned business, they leave their suburban Darien

Not just for night owls
An event that takes place overnight in downtown Chicago doesn’t sound all that family-friendly.

Bake sales battle childhood hunger
Shipping up a batch of brownies in your kitchen can be a first step in fighting childhood hunger around the country.

Get the scoop
Guy Stehley, president of Summit Fresh Ice Cream and Gelato in Libertyville, could tell you a thing or two about ice cream

Help for common disease
Gastroesophageal reflux disease, better known by its acronym GERD, is common and underdiagnosed in children

Helping kids beat muscle pain
If your young athlete struggles with muscle pains or weakness, there is a solution you might not know about.

Playing cards takes the angst out of math
Multiplication drills, flash cards, worksheets. No wonder kids learn to hate math.

A teacher to know
Jean Baldikoski is a retired English and journalism teacher and an educational consultant for grades 2 through 12

Reebok pays $1 million civil penalty
Reebok has agreed to pay a record $1 million fine for violating the Federal Hazardous Substances Act,

Celebrate mom’s special day
The six poems talk to us about events in the life of a growing-up baby. It begins with "Baby Face."

An unexpected treat
It was about 6:20 in the evening when I sat down to read the daily newspaper after a long, exhausting day of meetings

Travel from the early 20th century to present day
Violet’s big sister Chloe is gone and their parents refuse to even speak her name.