FIRST-TIMERS TO QUEBEC CITY

Quebec travel guide

Roundup of Our Recent Trip to Quebec City with Teenagers 

Happy New Year! Embarking on a journey with teenagers is an entirely distinct phase when it comes to family travel. The dynamics shift, interests evolve, and the experience feels a little different.

We just returned from a wonderful trip to Quebec City with our two teens, it was our first time there.  It is the closest thing you can get to feeling like you are in Europe but we DROVE there! No airplane flight was needed for us to get here (but they do have an airport if you want to fly). Brush up on your French and grab your passports. I am sharing here a round-up from our Quebec family trip as well as advice for traveling with teenagers on this post.

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Embracing the True Spirit of Christmas 

meaning of christmas

‘Tis the season of joy, and as parents, we find ourselves juggling the decorating, the shopping, the wrapping of gifts, the many school events & activities, and all the holiday parties. Amid the hustle and bustle, it’s easy to lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas. The other day my daughter, Blaine, and I were having a conversation about the real meaning of Christmas. So I thought it would be good for all of us to pause and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas, sharing valuable lessons to our children about what truly matters. (I am writing this mostly as a reminder to myself too.)

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Celebrating Gratitude in November

november gratitude

November is a month filled with warmth and reflection. As the leaves fall and the days grow shorter, it’s a time to embrace gratitude. Adjusting to daylight saving time has proven to be a challenge for us, but we are starting to get back on track. I love this quote that someone shared with me recently:

“November is the month to remind us to be thankful for the many positive things happening in our life.”

This sentiment holds a special place in our hearts, especially for those who call November their birthday month. Hello, that’s me! I just turned 51, and I am fully embracing my new age of 51.

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Leave Your Mark: People Remember How You Make Them Feel

Leave your mark

Our hearts are breaking right now as we all watch the crisis unfolding in the Middle East. If you are hurting right now, please know I stand with you and I support you. Please reach out if you need help or if you need to talk. Please know there is more support and more good out there than you might realize. I wanted to share with you something that is on my heart right now during this dark and heavy time. I recently had a couple of experiences that got me thinking about something important for all of us. 

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WHEN YOUR CHILD LEAVES THE NEST EARLY

Boarding School tips

Tips for Parents Dropping Off Their Young Teen at Boarding School

Many people (including some of our friends) told us we were crazy to send our son, Charlie, away to school at the age of 15. But the fact is he is going off to embrace an amazing opportunity for growth and independence at boarding school. Both my husband and I chose a similar path of boarding school for high school, and we both truly loved our experiences. I think that helps us as his parents feel more at ease about this big decision. Of course, my heart hurts from dropping Charlie off in his dorm. As I unpacked his clothes and helped make his bed in his new room, I kept thinking about all the milestones he has hit along the way — his first day of Kindergarten, the first time he rode his bike on his own, the first time he learned to ice skate, the first time he jumped off the diving board. It all flashed in front of me while we were in Charlie’s new small living space that he now has to learn how to share with a complete stranger, his roommate. 

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Balancing the Craziness of Youth Sports

Balancing the Craziness of Youth Sports

As a mom of two sporty kids, finding the right balance between competitive play and preserving the joy of sports can be challenging. Lately, we have been juggling lacrosse and ice hockey for both of our kids. Many high school and college level coaches have encouraged us to continue having our kids be multi-sport athletes, so for now, that is where things are for our family. 

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Find Your Own Path

follow your path

As a parent, you want your children to be happy and successful in life. One of the best ways to help them achieve this is by teaching them to carve out their own path. By encouraging your kids to follow their own interests and passions, you can help them find success on their own terms. Recently, our teenage son, Charlie, was actually the one who was teaching me about finding your own path. This lesson was an important one for me, and I wanted to share more about this with all of you here on the blog.

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I Am Loving My New Invisalign Smile

Invisalign journey review

Are you considering Invisalign in 2023? Do you know someone who is considering it? Or, maybe you just started your Invisalign journey. I am sharing all my tips and tricks here.

I had my Invisalign trays for six months in total. As I shared with you all when I started my Invisalign journey, I have never had braces before, so I was not really sure what I was getting myself into.

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