Clik here to view.
At what age do you leave your kids home alone at night?
I had a revelation the other day when my youngest daughter told me that she had spent the evening entertaining the guest. The guest in this case was the 19-year-old babysitter whom I was paying good...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The power of women — an interesting article about female endurance
A few weeks ago, Tamar was telling me about an article he was reading in the newspaper. About a certain kind of super-marathons, where athletes run for days and days with hardly any sleep or rest. I...
View ArticleClik here to view.
How waste-free are you? Tips and thoughts about food waste.
I attended a dinner on Monday to launch the ‘waste free’ campaign here in The Netherlands. It was really lovely as it was prepared by a Dutch cook who is known for cooking completely waste-free with...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Talking about death with your children. Some thoughts.
Yesterday I took Pim to the funeral of the mother of a dear friend. She has two sons Pim’s age (11 and 13) and I decided to bring him along so that he could offer support to his friends. Even though...
View ArticleClik here to view.
At what age do you give your children a mobile phone? Here’s how we deal with...
We live in an interesting age. Technology is developing with the speed of light and a life without mobile devices has simply become unthinkable. I find this such a strange phenomenon, especially given...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Tuesday Tips: Enjoy some extra sleep with a homemade ‘Surprise Station’
Our children are really good at entertaining themselves at home, but it seems the minute we go away on a mini weekend break, or even for longer, they wake up earlier, with more energy and excitement!...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Ear piercings for children — yay, or nay?
Yesterday, Sara and I headed over to a tiny jeweller here in the centre of Amsterdam to get another ear piercing. She already had three — when she was 12, she had one hole in one ear and two holes in...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Do you carve out one-on-one time for each of your kids?
One of the things I get asked the most in relation to having a big family is whether I’m able to spend enough quality time with each of my kids. And my response to this question usually surprises...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Have you taken your kids to Disney?
My sister-in-law just surprised her two young girls with a trip to Disney World for spring break. Intrigued, I asked my mother-in-law a few questions who has been several times. Her ears immediately...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Are you competitive when you play games with your children?
Let me start by saying that I have huge respect for parents with an endless (endless!!) patience; parents who can play silly games with their children and let them win over and over again. I am not one...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Fridge organisation for families, tips to avoid food waste
A couple of months ago I was asked to become an ambassador for the Dutch agency against food waste (#verspillingsvrij). Which I was happy to accept — food waste, after all, is one of the most serious...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Let experiences be! How playing back memories on a mobile phone can re-shape...
A couple of weeks ago Lara sent me an interesting NY Times article: Is the immediate playback of events changing children’s memories? It has definitely made me re-think the way I share photos and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Would you let your children get lost at night and let them find their own way...
Recently, an interesting article appeared in the New York Times, and so many of my friends and followers reached out to me about it. Is it true? Do you really do it? The topic of the article is about a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Encouraging children to read! Here are ten tips.
Both my oldest children are avid readers. Especially Sara is the kind of person who reads everything she can get her hands on: novels, series, educational books, newspapers, magazines, the back of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A new kind of list making
I made a list today, a different kind of list than I usually do. Not a to-do list, or a grocery list, or a list of errands to run, or a list in my gratitude journal that doesn’t exist because I have...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Thursday Thoughts: Do You Make Your Kids Stay at the Table at Mealtimes?
My husband and I have had a bit of a predicament lately which has left us with this question I’d love to ask you: When your kids are finished eating, do you make them stay at the table until everyone...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Memorizing Poetry, a lost art? Let’s talk about the benefits.
I’m just back from Community Meeting at my children’s school, which is a short weekly gathering of all the children in grades PreK-3 (so, ages 4 through 8 or 9 years old) and their parents. Typically...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Do You Keep Things Even in Your Family? Some thoughts
“Do I get a new book bag too?” “Why did you read three books to Charlotte and I only get one? No fair!” Do you see where this is going? Today I’m talking about the constant questions and comments on...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Cultural Richness around Bringing Up Children
London, has always been home. Born in the house I grew up in, it was my base for travelling this way and that to all of London’s corners which have attracted me and welcomed me. Its’ beauty owes much...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Christmas Gifts versus Christmas Experiences
Our family live in two different continents, and with three children, it is easy to accumulate and acquire a lot of stuff! I am a fan of curated living and only the very special items make the cut in...
View Article