We seem to have surpassed THAT age. The age of toys. I am elated. My kids, 11 and 7, still play with Playmobile, of which they have a ton. They still play with swords. And legos - somewhat. We have ample board games. But gone are the days of transformers, and electronic toys, and wandering the aisles at Toys R Us. We've gone through the Thomas stage, the Tonka stage, the Bakugon stage. In truth, I left Toys R Us for our local toy store a few years ago, only, there is nothing on their lists this year that even [...]

At the age of 4 1/2, my energetic, inquisitive, enthusiastic, and confident pre-schooler disappeared. Once game for everything, she feared even attending birthday parties. With her own friends. Her emotions were fragile. Tantrums and meltdowns like we had never experienced, would drop without warning. She was on edge. The little girl we knew was fading . . . the worry permeated our lives. Perhaps you think this sounds normal for a 4-year old. It's just phase. "You just had a new baby!" This season will pass. Next month it will be something new. Well, then there were the vacant eyes. [...]

A new yearly tradition for our family is coming to a close this week. The Christmas Jar. For an entire year, our family, children included, have been saving spare change in a glass jar. Coins we find in the dryer. Clink. Coins I find in my husband's pants as I tidy up his pile of clothes. Clink. Coins my children receive when making a purchase and receiving change. Clink. A few dollar bills have also found their way into our jar - folded up tightly and shoved through a slit we sliced into the lid. Here's what the kids know. [...]