Illinois Metro East

The key to successfully going from one, to two, to three kids is really just learning how to determine whose immediate need is more life-threatening. Plus, you stop judging parents who put their kids on leashes.

If you’re like me, the dog makes an appearance in the list as well.

I love the outdoors and could easily spend my days gleefully hiking through the countless breathtaking parks we're lucky to have in the St. Louis area. My kids? Not so much – yet.

Play comes naturally to kids. They use it as a way to express their feelings and learn new things. But in the age of electronics we live in, video games and screens can take over a child’s free time. Screen-free, or traditional play, offers benefits kids just don't get from playing on an iPad or on the latest game console.

For many parents, yelling has become a normal part of our daily routine. But recent studies show that harsh verbal discipline may be as harmful as physical punishment, especially for adolescents.