Rachel Paxton

Quick, Easy Dinners that Even Toddlers Will Eat

It's hard enough trying to figure out what to make for dinner every night let alone trying to please picky toddlers. Make that two picky toddlers! We have one that is a really good eater and one that changes his mind about what he likes almost every day, ... Read >

Croup Cough in Young Children

If your young child has ever awakened in the middle of the night crying, having difficulty breathing, and with a cough that sounds similar to that of a barking seal, then you are already familiar with a childhood illness commonly known as croup. Perso... Read >

Minimizing Temper Tantrums: Giving Your Toddler Choices

Oh, the terrible two's. As a mom of twin toddlers, I wasn't particularly looking forward to my boys turning two. As their third birthday approaches, I now realize that it wasn't really as bad as I had been expecting. I don't think temper tantrums can ever... Read >

Decorating a Boy's Room with an Auto and Airplane Theme

Choosing a decorating theme for your boy's bedroom isn't always easy. Your child can make it easy on you, however, if he has developed definite interests at a young age. My twin toddler boys love cars, trucks, boats, trains, motorcycles, anything with... Read >

Create a Tuscan-Inspired Decorating Theme for any Room

In the past couple of years a Tuscan style of decorating has become very popular in home decor. It's easy to see why...a Tuscan inspired room stirs up visions of rural Italian countrysides, worn wood furniture, old pottery, wrought iron accessories, and w... Read >

Raising a Self-Sufficient Teen

It's sometimes difficult to find ways to be involved with your teen without totally intruding in his/her life. You want to talk to them, they don't want to talk to you (most of the time anyway). I've found the best way to connect with my teenage daughter ... Read >

13 Ways to Spend Time With Your Teenage Daughter

The older my daughter gets the more it's sinking in that I don't have much time left to spend with her! She's turning 16 in a couple of months, and I know I won't be seeing her much after she gets her driver's license. It's hard to find things to do w... Read >

Starting a Teen Book Study Group

If you're looking for a way to connect with your teenage daughter this summer, consider starting a girl's book study group with your daughter and her friends. You may think that teens would not respond well to this idea, but think again…you just mig... Read >

Teaching Teens the Value of Money

It isn't easy raising teens in today's materialistic society. The older they get, the more expensive the things they want or think they need. If they don't learn how to manage their money at a young age, they won't be able to make it in the real world. ... Read >

Role Models for Your Teen

By the time your children reach their teens, there is only a limited amount of time left to influence them and get them started in life in the right direction. The teen years are a critical time for role models in your children's lives. Often you will... Read >

Building Teen Character: Volunteering for Community Service

Volunteering in the community is a great way to serve the people in the area where you live. Many non-profit organizations are run by people who give a lot of their own time and money to make your community a better place, and volunteers help these servic... Read >

Building Teen Character: Part-Time Employment

The teenage years are a crucial time in a child's life. They are not children anymore, but they are also not adults. During this time the choices they make may have an effect on them for the rest of their lives. It is the parents' responsibility to guide ... Read >

Organize Your Seasonal Home Decorating

I don't spend a lot of money decorating my home. Many people don't want to spend the time or money to decorate with the seasons, but over the years I have learned some ways to creatively seasonally decorate that have cost little or next to nothing. Be... Read >

Bathroom Organizing Ideas

If you're short on space in the bathroom, there are a number of ways you can optimize the space you do have to work with. Here are some ideas that have worked great for our family: - My daughter and I don't have a lot of jewelry, but we keep the jewel... Read >

Five Easy Meatloaf Recipes

Meatloaf is an easy family-friendly, budget-friendly main dish. There are many different recipes you can try to see which your family enjoys most. I have included five different recipes for you to try. You can make meatloaf with ground beef or ground ... Read >