Gryffindors are known for their boldness, but their bravery isn’t just about charging into danger. It’s about choosing to say yes when something feels new, uncomfortable, or uncertain. They’re the “step outside your comfort zone, do it scared, try the hard thing anyway” crowd.
Saying yes isn’t automatic for them; it’s intentional. It’s a decision to lean into courage, to grow, and to meet the moment with heart.
Continue reading
People love personality quizzes because they make identity feel simpler and more understandable. Like all true Millennials, Patti and I have mapped out our Enneagrams, Myers-Briggs, astrological sign, the list goes on and on. So to keep it fun this Halloween, we picked a truly controversial topic: What Hogwarts House is my kid in?
Most of us fans were placed in our houses years ago thanks to the official Pottermore quiz, but our kids are just getting into the Wizarding World and just beginning to explore who they are.
…There’s nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can’t see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be. – Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
This summer, I had a super quick Audible that I really enjoyed. We’ve had several posts on navigating youth sports, from why they are awesome to how they can be detrimental. What I was missing was a non-biased first-hand parent account.
What I liked about this short memoir from David Murray is that he fully admits that he’s not “sporty”. He knew nothing about soccer. He wasn’t going to be a de facto coach, and he wasn’t going to push his daughter to uphold a family legacy. This is his parent story of how his daughter, Scout, started in kiddie soccer and followed her soccer goals all the way through her graduation at Ohio University.
Soccer Dad by David Murray.
Blurb: Soccer Dad is the story of a soccer-ignorant, sports-ambivalent writer who saw his daughter from the kiddie leagues through the travel-sports gauntlet to a coveted Division I scholarship. And then realized his work had only begun.
David Murray’s daughter, Scout, loved soccer from toddlerhood. Her drive and skill pulled the Murray family into the world of youth sports—one as culturally obsessive as it is economically exclusive, where each new achievement presents more challenges.
Youth sports is fun, but it isn’t simple—especially for parents determined to raise a rounded human being.
Continue reading
Kids need food to grow, that’s a given. But things get more complicated when they hit a growth spurt. Hunger can spike overnight, and parents are suddenly trying to figure out what’s normal, what’s excessive, and what actually supports healthy development. It’s easy to assume the answer is simply to “feed them more,” but the truth is more nuanced.
Growth spurts bring shifting appetites and evolving nutritional needs. Figuring out how to support that transition lays the groundwork for smart, responsive nutrition and eating habits.
Continue reading
When I was 5, my parents enrolled me in a Montessori program. At that age, you obviously don’t grasp the difference between that and a typical classroom, but I remember the long reading periods and the one‑on‑one lessons. Teachers used hands‑on materials, games, and toys to introduce academic concepts.
Once I entered elementary school, my learning experience shifted dramatically. Classes became structured, centering around worksheets, whole‑group instruction, and a set schedule. Independent, self‑paced learning was rare, and the day revolved around the teacher directing the entire class at once.
As a parent, I’ve chosen the traditional route for my own kids, but several friends have opted for Montessori programs instead and have had a wide range of experiences. It made me curious: What exactly defines Montessori education today, and why do some families swear by it while others move on?
Continue reading
