Shelby Barone

With family and friends attending holiday dinners, manners are on the minds of many parents. There is more to manners than just polite social behavior. Manners can help encourage children to respect and treat others like themselves. Here are a few tips on the best way to nurture good manners in your children during this... read more

"What about their real mother?" This is a question that many adoptive mothers hear on a regular basis when the subject of their child's adoption is brought up. It's normally never said in the context of hate or maliciousness, but as an adoptive mother I tend to cringe every time I hear it. Why? Because... read more

I have three kids, all twenty-two months apart. For the past ten years, I've begged my husband almost every night for a little break so I could enjoy just a few wee seconds of silence. There were stacks of diapers, mounds of dirty clothes and a sea of dirty dishes that seemed like it would... read more

Everywhere I go it seems like there is always a toddler playing on their parent's iPhone -- in the grocery store, doctor's office and even at the school drop-off. Everywhere. The iPhone has quickly become "entertainment on-the-go" for toddlers. Over the years, I've tried to keep my toddler away from my iPhone (that has always... read more

To me, a parent's best tool for creating healthy meals for their family is a grill. Almost anything can be made on a grill including pizza, fruits and even pound cake (yes really!). With only a short time left before the cold weather comes, this is an excellent time to take advantage of your grill... read more