5 Easy Crafts to Keep Little Hands Busy This Summer
One of my favorite parts of summer is how it naturally invites creativity. There are slower mornings, longer afternoons, and just enough unstructured time for little imaginations to take over. Of course, that also means there...
Our Kids Love Real Life Adventures (Lessons from Teaching, Part 2)
Teaching sixth grade this year gave me a front row seat for just how much today's youth love having social, interactive, creative fun at the pace of real life.
My Day in the Dark Ages
Saturday morning started like so many others. Penny and I headed over to my sister's house early in the morning for a visit. We drank coffee, caught up on life, watched the girls play, and enjoyed one of those slow mornings t...
Summer and the Beautiful Chaos
Summer here has its own personality. One day you're pulling out the sprinkler, and the next you're reminding your kids that yes, they still need a sweatshirt. But even in the unpredictability, the drizzle, the sunbreaks, the ...
4th of July Paper Plate Flag Craft
"The American flag represents all of us and the values we hold sacred." - Adrian Cronauer America is about to celebrate a huge milestone. That's right, our nation's 250th Birthday is right around the corner! Parades...
What We Hoard
Hoarding has been around forever, of course. It's just that now we have a name for it. People used to call it being a messy housekeeper, or lazy, or even slovenly. None of those words quite described the depth of the probl...
Parenting Trends with Julie Lyles Carr
Julie goes solo this episode, unpacking the latest parenting trends, with insights on what to take with you from those trends and what to consider leaving behind.
Old Fashioned Fluffy Pancakes
Today I'm excited to share with you a family favorite. I make this recipe at least once a week and my family's totally unbiased opinion is that Mummy's homemade pancakes taste better than those at the restaurant! I hope your ...
Our Students Are More Capable Than They Think
It is a beautiful thing to see a student learn a new skill, and it is a satisfying moment for everyone when that student realizes he or she is capable of learning beyond what they expected for themselves.
Dear Mom in the Thick of It
I don't know who needs this reminder today more, you or me. Maybe it's because we're standing at the finish line of another school year, where every day somehow holds three events, four permission slips, and one library book ...
Patriotic Crafts for a Memorable Fourth of July
Last year, my hubby and I were alone on the 4th of July. We barbecued and put on our own little fireworks show. It was a far cry from the big yearly parties we used to throw. But that's what happens when your kids grow up ...
Off the Hamster Wheel with Christine Gunderson
Novelist and journalist Christine Gunderson joins Julie Lyles Carr for an insightful conversation about the forces that drive us to do more more more for our kids and why it could be time for a reset.
The Pope, AI, and the Discipline of Boredom
If you've ever caught yourself doom‑scrolling, multitasking your quiet time, or avoiding stillness, this conversation will feel uncomfortably familiar in the best way.
A Joyful Mom
Lord, help me to speak kindly to my children. Please help me to be kind, loving, warm and fun. In Jesus Name, Amen. I just prayed that for the millionth time this week. And how many times do we Moms pray such a prayer, after ...
Summer Moments: Can We Just Stay Here for a Minute?
The other night, Penny looked at me with complete sincerity and said, "I'm so sad how fast summer is going to go." The funny thing was that summer hadn't even started yet. She still has a few weeks of school left, l...