We’ve all seen it. The droopy eyes. The down-turned mouth. The slouching posture. The “I don’t think I can go to school today” pout. You prompt your child to get ready for school and then see how they feel. They pick at their cereal and insist they’re dying. You wonder [...]
The countdown has begun: In just 33 days, my baby turns 1 year old. Whaaat?! I'm pretty sure I just found out last week that I was pregnant, so there's no way I'm about to have a one year-old. Alas, it's true, and the party-planning has begun. Once upon a [...]
We've all had that one doctor, whether its our regular MD or someone we saw for a rush appointment while our own doc was in the Bahamas. Y'know, that doctor that seems to know everything about everything, except they seem to have forgotten all knowledge of beside manner and dismissed any [...]
Alison Yoder prepares a chicken tortilla bake with her children Zach, 8, and Audrey Nelson, 11, in their Santa Rosa home on Oct. 23, 2007.(The Press Democrat / Christopher Chung) If you could pick anybody to have a meal with - anybody dead or alive - who would [...]
After every relationship milestone, there always seems to be a well-meaning albeit nosy question. If you've been dating more than a year: "When's the Wedding?" After the wedding (in my case, during my reception), the fervor increases: "So when are you having a baby?!" Almost immediately after baby #1 pops out, [...]
"Raise your hand if your parents took out a second mortgage to pay for this!" Preschool. The word alone makes many folks shudder. Remember when preschool was just a fun, easy-going prep thing kids were sent to the year before kindergarten, as a sort of bridge to help [...]
Kelly Pope Adamson of Kenwood put together a guide to Disneyland geared to young readers.
Even after having a baby, I struggle with my body as it is now perhaps more than I ever have, even when I was 100 pounds heavier than I currently am.
Up to now, my 16-year-old son, Christopher, a junior at Maria Carrillo High School has been on the normal track for college-bound teens. College visits. ACT and SAT tests. Some honors and AP classes. The works. And with that comes the other stuff - late nights studying, stress, competition to [...]
The littlest Ansley *loves* dining out. I have always loved dining out and finding the new, undiscovered food gems in our area. When I got pregnant, I never really seriously considered that having a baby would get in the way of my food adventures. Of course I expected [...]
There’s an old African proverb that states “It takes a village to raise a child”, and these days that proverb has never been more true. Whether we’re related by blood or by intention, families come in all forms, and are only defined by the bonds of love.
Crissi Langwell is the voice of the Village, which she started in 2012. Crissi is a the mother of three kids, ages 18-24, and tells stories of her blended family and other stories related to families and parenting. She is also a Petaluma author of 11 books. You can find out more about her novels at crissilangwell.com.
The Village is also home to other voices, as well, including Stephanie Ansley (a new mom facing the joys of first-time parenthood), as well as Paul Gullixson (a parent and coach of a team of 12-year-olds) and Meg McConahey (a mom with enough experience to have some good laughs about the whole thing).
We welcome all kinds of voices, and you may see some additional viewpoints from other Press Democrat writers and local contributors. Because it truly does take a village.
