Capital City Parent

 When I was a child growing up in the 1980s, my dad was something of an anomaly. He took me to doctors’ appointments and sports practices; he chaperoned school field trips; he played board games with me and read books to me on lazy summer days. He wasn’t technically a stay-at-home dad, but as an […]

This is the time of year when people gather together to celebrate the holidays. For six local families, the focus is on teaching their children the true meaning of the holidays and passing down their values through their traditions. It’s important for each to preserve their religious heritage and to raise their children the way […]

My two-year-old granddaughter, Maddie, loves Sriracha, the incendiary chilli sauce that is de rigueur in many Southeast Asian dishes and more common than catsup on home and restaurant tables alike.  On a recent visit to Brooklyn, my almost-four-year-old grandson, Robbie, kept dipping his finger into the condiment cup of malt vinegar I’d gotten for my […]

Work/life balance is often demonstrated as finding time for your job and your family or partner. But what about you? I recently included my 2 ½-year-old daughter when describing a group of “people.” She quickly corrected me: “Mommy, I’m not people, I’m a big girl.” Guildenstern’s quote from Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead […]

Ten years ago, Kim Leistner shared an email newsletter with 30 of her friends. It was filled with tips and upcoming events for area families to enjoy, with all the information in one convenient place. With some late nights, dedication and a little old-fashioned word of mouth, that newsletter grew to what it is today […]

It’s back-to-school time, and that means, in addition to buying new shoes and school supplies, families are making appointments with their doctors for kids’ physicals and immunizations. Yet a growing number of people are growing wary of vaccinations, and some are refusing to have their children vaccinated altogether.  Mistrust of vaccinations exploded in 1998 when […]

Ann Gemberling of Springfield always wanted children. “I wanted to get pregnant,” she said. “I talked about it all the time.” She and her husband, Jay, knew they would be great parents and would be able to provide a good life for a child. Both in their late 20s, the couple knew it was going […]

Children constantly learn from us parents – lessons we want to teach and those we don’t, whether we know they’re watching or not. Here’s how two Springfield mothers make lessons in compassion intentional, ongoing and heartfelt.     A complete life For Mary Killough, compassion begins at home, with her sons, Jacob, Justin and Jeffrey, and […]

 Agri-education is a word not found in the traditional dictionary, but Indian Creek Farmstead in Petersburg offers a vivid interactive definition. With the goal of teaching schoolchildren about life on the farm, Indian Creek offers presentations, exhibits and other focused activities. John Lyons, co-owner of the farmstead, defines agri-education as the education and knowledge sharing […]

  Consider going to the doctor and hearing this: “Your son is autistic. He will never speak, he will never be able to swing on a swing, and he will never get married because he is incapable of compassion for another person.” Then, “Here is a brochure. Good luck!” Fifteen years ago, these things and […]

  When she became pregnant, Rachel Rambach knew she wanted a doula [DUE-luh] by her side during delivery. As a first-time mother, she was daunted by the process of labor, yet determined to have an epidural-free birth. She turned to Janet Tolley of Gentle Touch Doulas in Springfield. “Janet was a calming force from the […]

When my son unexpectedly brought home a school friend for video games, homework and supper one afternoon years ago, I baked an easy cake recipe, topped it with fresh, sweet whipped cream and served it for dessert. “Where’s the box?” the friend asked. “And the can?” We just smiled at each other.  From his early […]