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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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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Embracing 50: Celebrating Womanhood and Motherhood

Clarke-family-photo-June-2023

50 Things About Turning 50 as a Woman and Mom

Turning 50 is a remarkable milestone for any woman, especially those who have journeyed through the joys and challenges of motherhood. It’s a time to reflect on the experiences that have shaped us, celebrate our accomplishments, and embrace the wisdom that comes with age. Since turning 50 earlier this year, I have realized that growing older is a privilege and we all need to celebrate the gift of aging. As I have shared with you all before, my favorite age is now, and we should all be tapping into who we are. Life after 50+ is not all sunshine and lollipops either. I will always keep it real. There are challenges that come with this stage too. (We can talk about menopause and parenting teenagers another time!) But we are here to embrace the wisdom, experience, and newfound freedom that life after 50 brings, allowing us to fully appreciate the journey and make the most of every moment. Here are 50 simple and positive pieces of advice for women as they reach this incredible milestone.

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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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An American (Family) in Paris

Best place in Paris to visit 2022

A few of our favorite things about our family trip to Paris

Happy New Year! Here’s to good health, more good news, and big love in 2023! 

We ended 2022 with a bang. Our family went on a very special trip to Paris for Christmas break. It was magical to be there over Christmas. The Christmas markets in Paris are not to be missed. This was our kids’ first time being in Europe, and I know they will always remember this trip. First up, our flight tips for the flight over to Paris: eye masks and melatonin are your BFFs on the flight as well as CARRY ON LUGGAGE. Trust me, you can do carry-on!

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Season of Kindness

season of kindness

The holiday season is not always happy for everyone. No matter how you feel right now, the truth is that this time of year is often filled with emotions for everyone. If this month has been hard for you, I am with you. 

Our mom recently became critically ill in the hospital in Naples, Florida, and required a lot of intense care very quickly. 

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Fall Checklist

Fall checklist 2022

Hello, fall 2022! As we embrace a new season ahead, we say goodbye to summer.  

I have actually been feeling anxious about this fall as we have a jam-packed schedule. Bring on the hockey season! It is also sinking in that this is Charlie’s last year with us at home. Cue the mom tears! I am having all the feelings as we close out September. Blaine is turning 12 this week, leaving me wondering where did my baby girl go?! And speaking of birthdays, I have a very big one approaching that I am preparing for. More on that milestone soon! #Almost50

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