I was not raised to sit still. I was raised to make good use of my time and improve the lives of others, whenever possible. During the holidays, I usually find myself volunteering for local nonprofits, exchanging cookies with my friend, Kristen, and her loved ones, or watching “The Boy,” (my son,) perform in Open ...

  With the approval of multiple new COVID-19 vaccines on the horizon, some might say now is the perfect time to book, or at least begin planning for summer vacation. Although I can’t argue with this line of thinking, our family has always planned summer vacations far in advance. It all started at the beginning ...

COVID-19 restrictions mean the holiday season will be different this year, but that doesn’t mean you have to become a Grinch. Although extensive travel, large group gatherings and many traditional activities can’t happen, you can find imaginative ways to be just as joyful with a dash of creativity. In fact, many people are embracing this ...

Nobody needs a study to tell them being a single parent is tough. “This is a group of people who are kind of carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders, right?” said Dr. Natalie Stokes, a cardiology fellow at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. “You’re taking care of kids. You’re trying to ...

Confession: I have no idea how I’m going to do my Christmas shopping this year. Yes, I still like shopping in a store. No, I’m not a total curmudgeon. I’m a GenXer – an Xennial, if you go for micro-generational labels. We sailed through the analog-to-digital era; this should not be a problem! And while ...

A sore back. That stiff joint. Another headache. With so much time being spent at home, you’re probably noticing more of your daily aches and pains. Many people tend to envision pain only impacting older people, and while everyone’s pain is unique, you might be surprised to learn that pain impacts younger generations just as ...

Homework is a big part of a child’s school day, whether school is composed completely of remote instruction or a hybrid of in-person and online learning. If your child is struggling to adapt, providing a supportive environment and establishing a productive routine can help them thrive. When school has shifted to home, everything feels like homework, ...

Christmas Eve 2013: I was driving from my parent’s house where we exchanged presents and stuffed ourselves with good “Mom-Mom” food. I was heading to drop my kids off at their father’s house where they would wake up to Santa’s splendor. When we separated in 2012, we had agreed on alternating Christmas mornings. This was ...

Regina Philipps’ son, Shane, was born a happy, healthy and strong baby — holding his head up on his own, rolling, and pushing himself up on his arms. But at six months old, Regina noticed something might be wrong. “He started moving less, and some of the strength he had seemed to be disappearing,” said ...