Like most people, my husband and I look forward to springtime as an opportunity to freshen things up in and around our house. As the weather warms up and the sunny days grow longer, we love turning up the radio (he enjoys cleaning to Fleetwood Mac), opening up the windows and clearing out the clutter. […]
Lana Shovlin
Posted inOpinion
Vaccine unhesitancy
Over the past 15 years, my husband and I have done countless things together, but had you told me that one day we would be receiving vaccinations to help stop a global pandemic, I never would have believed you. A few weeks ago, though, that’s exactly what we did as we walked hand-in-hand into the […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
The best of times,the worst of times
As far as illness goes, winters in our home used to be pretty brutal. In the past, it seemed like every time I turned around, someone had a runny nose, a low-grade temperature or a dreaded night cough that would keep the entire family awake, leaving us all sleep-deprived for days. I was constantly adding […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Small changes,big results
Years before having a family of my own, I had a conversation with my brother-in-law in which he admitted that his favorite time of day was in the morning, before his children had woken up. Not understanding how exhausting parenting can be, I was shocked by his admission and judged him harshly. I pegged him […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Teaching sustainability
As parents, my husband and I strive to equip our children with the tools they’ll need to grow into healthy, happy and successful adults. We teach them good manners, talk to them about the importance of personal hygiene, help them with their homework and tell them to eat their vegetables. We make sure that they […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Small changes, big results
Years before having a family of my own, I had a conversation with my brother-in-law in which he admitted that his favorite time of day was in the morning, before his children had woken up. Not understanding how exhausting parenting can be, I was shocked by his admission and judged him harshly. I pegged him […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Low-tech pastimes
On Friday evenings, after my family has completed a long week of remote learning and working from home, we eat dinner, clean the kitchen and head into the living room to watch a family movie. In theory, this seems like a great way to decompress, but as many parents know, the idea of family movie […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Spread holiday cheer by sharing your talent
In one of my all-time favorite movies, Dan in Real Life, Steve Carell plays Dan Burns, a widower who writes a weekly advice column for the local newspaper. In the movie, Dan takes his three young daughters to a family gathering at his quirky parents’ rustic, beautiful, well-lived-in home on the shore of Rhode Island. […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Creating new Halloween traditions
Starting back in August, my daughters began planning their Halloween costumes. At first, my six-year-old told me she wanted to be a vampire. Two hours later, she reconsidered that frightening getup and told me she wanted to be a beautiful princess. An hour after that, she changed her mind again. My oldest daughter is “totally […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Space for school
If you are a parent of school-age children, chances are you have spent the past few months wondering what school would look like this year. I’m willing to bet that you’ve had countless conversations with family, friends and even total strangers about the options that schools were offering and which of those options – if […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Small steps to a better you
I recently read a fascinating article in The Wall Street Journal about how rituals have the power to turn periods of isolation into opportunities for self-growth. The author, William James, a well-known American philosopher and psychologist, also happened to be his wife’s primary caretaker throughout her 10-year struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. While caring for her, […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
What to do for date night
If you are in any sort of romantic relationship, chances are that you’ve heard about the importance of date night. Time spent alone with your significant other is a wonderful way to reconnect, have uninterrupted conversations and serves as a great reminder why you fell in love in the first place. When my husband and […]
