Stuffing the Turkey, Trimming the Tree, Lighting the Candles: The Importance of Holiday Family Traditions
Andrea Ramsay Speers
When you think back to your own childhood, what are the holiday family traditions that stand out most? Were the activities you remember now the ones you were most determined [...]
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Who’s In Your Village?
Andrea Ramsay Speers
The expression goes, “it takes a village”. Raising kids was never supposed to be a solo endeavour, yet today’s parents often end up feeling very alone. In some ways, it’s [...]
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Nighty-Night
With the lazy days of summer behind us, it’s time to turn our attention back to the regular routines and structure of school days. One of the first things to slip when [...]
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Happiness At Home: 33 Ways to Use Your Journal for Self-Discovery and Self-Expression
Andrea Ramsay Speers
As a therapist, I often suggest to clients that they explore their feelings and thoughts by keeping a journal. Sometimes clients ask for a bit of direction with this process. [...]
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Morning Routines
Andrea Ramsay Speers
Kids thrive on routines. We see this clearly with infants and toddlers, but even as kids grow and begin school, they still need for predictability and order. Routines help [...]
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No Is Not A Four-Letter Word
Andrea Ramsay Speers
People ask a lot of us. Whether they want us to take on a new project at work, bake a dozen cupcakes for the school bake sale, or water their plants while they’re away, we [...]
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Number One Secret To Happiness
Andrea Ramsay Speers
Well, how could I not be intrigued with a title like, “I tried Denmark’s No. 1 secret to happiness for a year. It truly changed my life — and even made me [...]
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“That’s Not Fair!”
Andrea Ramsay Speers
Kids are sensitive, especially to anything their siblings get. This could be attention, money, dessert, chores…the list is endless. How many times does a parent have to [...]
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Being Mom Enough
Andrea Ramsay Speers
With all the talk of attachment parenting versus gentle parenting and good mothers versus not-good mothers, one thing really stands out to me. It’s just another example [...]
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A Happy Marriage Is Good For Kids!
Andrea Ramsay Speers
I remember learning in my Human Family OAC (remember those?) class about the cycles of a couple’s closeness. They are emotionally closest right after their marriage and they [...]
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