There was a time, not so long ago, where it was common for us to get together with my sister's[...]

I spent the past weekend in Boston. It was my husband and my fourth trip to the Boston Marathon in[...]

Yesterday was such a great day, because I spent it doing a few things I really enjoy - connecting with[...]

Focus on what  matters. I love the annual process of thinking about what I want for the coming year and[...]

[one-third-first][one-third-first] [/one-third-first] [one-third] [/one-third] [one-third][/one-third]   I love books, especially ones that give me ideas for how to live this one precious[...]

100 Family Memories Every December our family makes a list of 100 family memories from the year. This year marks our[...]

Enjoy the little things because one day you'll look back and realize they were the big things. In Episode 63,[...]

Next to unplugging, one of my favorite things to talk about is spending time outside. In fact, I believe the[...]

"The strong bond of friendship is not always a balanced equation; friendship is not always about giving and taking in[...]

In Episode 56, I'm chatting with Laura Vanderkam about her book Off the Clock: Feel Less Busy While Getting More[...]

I recorded this month's One Simple Thing during a retreat this weekend at 1440 Multiversity I attended with my daughter, Gretchen[...]

Off the Clock: Feel Less Busy While Getting More Done by Laura Vanderkam My rating: 5 of 5 stars I’ve been obsessively[...]

One highlight of my summer has been meeting with our oldest female campers to discuss relationships, goals, and life. These[...]

One of my highlights of last week was meeting with our Junior Counselors (17-year-olds heading into their senior year of[...]

Last week, during my training with camp staff about friendship skills, I showed them this video: I then asked our[...]

We're craving those few people who know us and love us no matter what. -Shasta Nelson   In Episode 40,[...]

"It soon hit me that all of the best parenting classes in the world are not going to work if[...]

 Would you consider taking a few moments --less than ONE MINUTE -- to say or write something positive to[...]

“You have to build a life you love as if it’s your job. Because it is.” Kathleen Shannon & Emily[...]

It was fitting that I finished reading The Village Effect: How Face-to-Face Contact Can Make Us Healthier and Happier(Susan Pinker)[...]

For my thirteenth birthday, I received a Canon AE-1 camera. And while I’ve long-since moved on to a digital SLR,[...]

The art of asking good questions, and listening carefully to the person’s response, is one important key to forming and[...]

Dear Audrey, I am the early childhood/camp director at the Jewish Community Center of Dallas (and parent of 4) and[...]

The end of one year and beginning of the next offers a unique opportunity to both reflect back and plan[...]

This is a guest post from Leslie Seidner, a writer who researches and writes about positive psychology, anxiety, and brain[...]

I’ve been enjoying Gretchen Rubin’s books since my oldest daughter (also named Gretchen) gave me The Happiness Project (Revised Edition):[...]

My oldest daughter started her first teaching job about a month ago. She’s teaching high school English to 9th and[...]

Last week I did something unheard of during my first 32 years as a camp director. I took a full[...]

My 2016 ended with a bang – two trips to the ER on New Year’s Eve. My son needed a[...]

Last week, I was listening to a podcast from one of my favorite leadership and motivational speakers (Michael Hyatt's This[...]

The one area of parenting where I am incredibly consistent is in my unrealistic expectations for how family together time[...]

“The only way to have a friend is to be one.” Ralph Waldo Emerson Earlier this year I reached out[...]

I just returned from my favorite annual camp conference. Spending time with this group of camp owners and directors refocuses[...]

Being able to resolve conflicts is one of the most important social skills our kids need in order to thrive[...]

In episode 1 of the Sunshine Parenting podcast, I talk with best selling author Christine Carter, Ph.D., about her book, Raising[...]

September is my “new year.” The busy summer is over, and I have some time to rest, reflect, and regroup[...]

Part of the “magic” of camp is that from the first moment, we focus on building relationships and getting our[...]

I was recently talking to a friend who spent a year in Spain, and she shared with me how different[...]

One of our treasured camp traditions is reading to campers each evening at bedtime. We adopted the tradition more than[...]

Well, I don't know the child that was returned to me on Saturday. It definitely wasn't the child I dropped off[...]

During one of our final training sessions with counselors, we ask them to think back to their “low point” as[...]

Today concludes 10 intense days of training with our counselors to prepare them to work with campers this summer. We’ve[...]

What are the qualities you like best about yourself? If you’re like me, I’ll bet you haven’t thought about that[...]

Next to unplugging, one of my favorite things to talk about is spending time outside. In fact, I believe the[...]

I learned to breathe a few weeks ago. Let me explain. While I’ve been breathing my whole life, I found[...]

When we can let go of what other people think and own our story, we gain access to our worthiness[...]

Many kids struggle with their sense of worth and forget who they really are during high school. For high achieving[...]

I saw this video last week, and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about the power of compliments: Isn’t[...]

There are so many reasons great parents choose to send their kids to summer camp. Two years ago, I shared[...]

“The movie Stepford Wives came to mind as I watched my students live their college life still somehow looking to[...]

"It turns out that grit predicts performance better than IQ or innate talent. Grit makes our kids productive and successful[...]

As I started writing this, I realized that my title is inaccurate: “5 Ways to Live Life Well” would be[...]

The end of one year and beginning of the next offers a unique opportunity to both reflect back and plan[...]

Are you looking for some inspirational reads to help you switch some things up? Over the past few years, I[...]

With more of my kids away at school than still living at home, I have lofty ambitions for our family[...]

I would not be the person I am today without camp. -15-year-old camper My three decades of camp experience, coupled[...]

Does your daughter have trouble fitting in to a particular social group? Does your son feel like he's being excluded from social events?[...]

Creating a grateful family culture is a challenge in our entitled, indulgent age. Yet much research has confirmed what we[...]

“I’m not a runner.” “I can’t run.” I’ve heard variations of these statements many times when running comes up in[...]

Do you ever get an anxious feeling when you’re on the way to the airport, leaving for a trip? You’re[...]

A few weeks ago, one of our children (who shall remain nameless to avoid incrimination) made the choice not to[...]

As parents and adults who work with youth, we can positively impact kids’ lives through helping them build good social[...]

The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team with Positive Energy I listened to The Energy[...]

This morning I was on the receiving end of a telephone call that made me view my day and my[...]

As I prepare for next month’s camp counselor training, I find myself reflecting—once again—that parents should get at least this[...]

“Every laugh line on your face made you who you are today.” This One’s for the Girls (Martina McBride) In[...]

I’ve always considered myself non-confrontational and have done my best to avoid conflict. In researching ways to teach kids conflict[...]

In two weeks, I’ll be graduating with my master’s degree in Psychology. Why at 46 did I decide to go[...]

Every Monday morning I get an email with my kids’ current grades. Typically, I scan over them for any assignments[...]

Last summer, I conducted research on the impact camp experiences have on children’s social skills and happiness. This research was through[...]

Camp is basically my happy place, and I love being here more than any other place in the world. -Camper,[...]

“First and foremost, we need to be the adults we want our children to be.” Brené Brown Books have an[...]

Most of us know the importance of family dinners: Kids who regularly eat dinner with their families are more emotionally stable, are[...]

While it’s easy to think of ways to teach our kids to do laundry or solve math problems, finding a[...]

I usually slog through these kinds of non-fiction books over a few months, interspersed with some “fun” reading. With this[...]

No human on the internet can miss the flood of articles about how bad all of our screen time is[...]

At one of my son’s soccer games this fall, a mom on our team offered her son $50 for each[...]

Being at camp gives me this sense of belonging that I've never felt anywhere else. I know that I can[...]

Dear Sunshine Parenting Reader, Thank you for reading my posts this year! In 2007, I read a book called Writing[...]

As a fun, year-end activity (at least for a book nerd like me), I've pulled some of my favorite books[...]

grate•ful:  feeling or showing appreciation; thankful. en•ti•tiled: believing oneself to be inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment. An interesting juxtaposition[...]

Like most families, we are constantly on the go between school, sports, and other activities. But as I inventory where[...]

Before I had kids, there were several things I said I would never let my kids do. Once I was actually a[...]

I have a love-hate relationship with my screens. I know how important it is to get unplugged, and I enjoy many[...]

This post is dedicated to the fabulous young adults who choose to forgo privacy, sleep, and social media to work 24[...]

My dream is for my kids to attend a school they love as much as they love camp. Two years[...]

The recreational sports we teach at camp include sailing, water skiing, rock climbing, and many more fun outdoor sports. But[...]

  A few summers ago, a ten-year-old camper wrote a letter home telling his parents he was being bullied at[...]

Next week 100 counselors arrive to spend 10 days learning to lead campers to have fun, make friends, and grow this[...]

I overestimate what I can do. Every day. You would think after nearly five decades of living with me, I[...]

Campers often describe camp as their “happy place”” or “the best two weeks” of their year. And, from my own[...]

No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted. -Aesop I usually rush through the day thinking about what I[...]

Why should we care so much about our kids making friends? Because children with friends show many positive characteristics that[...]

My shy, quiet nine-year-old went to camp not knowing a soul. Two weeks later, she came home transformed.  She blossomed.[...]

Here are a few tough questions: • Has anyone ever accused your child of bullying or being mean to another child?[...]

“Realize that true happiness lies within you. Waste no time and effort searching for peace and contentment and joy in[...]

“Friendship is the gold of childhood.”   Michael Thompson’s statement stuck with me long after I attended his session on the[...]

Leaving a soccer game last fall, a teammate called out to my son, “Great game today!” My son didn’t turn[...]

I almost changed the title of this post to “Why my Kids won’t be Olympians,” since it seems appropriate this[...]

2014: Inspired by an email from a friend last week asking about parenting her soon-to-be-teen daughter, I found this post[...]

I’m like a lot of other moms in that I have A LOT of different projects and tasks going on[...]

Oh, how I love my nightly Pinterest sessions.  I look forward to that mindless scrolling and pinning of recipes I'll[...]

“The most important assignment a mom has is to nurture her children.” Tim Sanford, M.A. (Losing Control & Liking It)[...]

In today's digital, fast-moving, ultra-competitive world, raising kids who grow into happy, independent adults has become more challenging for parents.[...]

I love thinking about and writing down my goals for each year.  I used to set unrealistic, vague, way-too-big goals[...]

This weekend, I had the pleasure of listening to Madeline Levine, PhD. (author of The Price of Privilege, Teach Your Children[...]

I have a confession to make. My family, as of late, does not have much fun together.  Yes, there are[...]

An activity we do at campfires at camp has been helpful in our family at getting our kids to communicate[...]

“Being considerate of others will take your children further in life than any college degree.” -Marian Wright Edelman This summer’s[...]

“The hallmark of flow is a feeling of spontaneous joy, even rapture, while performing a task...” -Wikipedia definition of flow While[...]

Gold Arrow Camp has taught me to be brave and reach my goals. If it wasn't for GAC, I wouldn't[...]

I couldn’t let this year end without revisiting the theme of gratitude, which became an important focus this year for[...]

We finally got out of our pajamas and headed to the ice rink late Christmas afternoon.  My natives were restless,[...]

The best thing you can give your children, next to good habits, are good memories. -Sydney Harris Our home is[...]

Anyone who's been reading my blog knows that I'm a big proponent of getting kids "unplugged."  I love that they[...]

What do kids choose to share with their parents about their camp experience, or, for that matter, about any experience?[...]