Your child has been texting someone frequently, and you’ve noticed changes in their behavior. Your teen, who hardly ever wore makeup or brushed their hair, is now spending an hour getting ready for school every day. Your child, who loved spending time with friends, is suddenly very withdrawn and hardly…

Haunting and beautiful science-based fiction explores resilience in the natural world. As yet another brutal hurricane bears down on Florida in the not-too-distant future, a young family is going through the usual motions of storm preparation. Frida is very pregnant. Kirby, the dad, works as a lineman for the Florida…

There we sat – crisscross applesauce on the kitchen floor – surrounded by a sea of Duplo LEGO blocks. One of us didn’t have pants on. The look on her face was one of shock and delight. My little building buddy glanced down to see if a puddle had formed…

There are many debates about the best ways to educate our children. But here is one certainty: Learning starts long before kindergarten. Quality early care and education have a major and lasting impact on a child’s overall development and increase their chances of success in the classroom and in life.…

Several years ago, Martina, who was in her late sixties, felt she was experiencing too many memory lapses. She was concerned the gaps were caused by dementia, a cognitive condition she had witnessed in several close family members, so she asked her primary care physician if she was now on…

Picture this: The laundry is piled up, the dishes need to be done, and there’s a stack of mail on the counter waiting to be opened (you already recycled the junk). Sound familiar? That’s only scratching the surface. Add to that being the primary caregiver for kids and working a…

No matter your set-up at home – whether you have a big backyard or a balcony – you have an opportunity to help the environment by planting to attract pollinators. Beetles, bees, butterflies, moths, flies, hummingbirds, bats, and other pollinators are responsible for two-thirds of the food crops we eat.…

Using recycled materials and a little imagination, create a bouquet of beautiful blossoms for a Mother’s Day or Father’s Day treat! Have fun making your own printmaking tools and then use them to create colorful flowers for your arrangement. The best thing about these blooms? They won’t wilt! Photos: Scott…

Q My seventh-grade son has started painting his fingernails and has asked me for permission to get his ears pierced. I’m not sure how this will be received in our family or by his peer group. Would you say yes to this request? A Pre-teens and teens frequently use their…

Have you ever heard someone say that something smells like a wet dog? Poor pups! They get blamed for a lot. The truth is, your dog should not smell bad. Sure, some of his parts are not going to smell like roses, but generally, a foul odor from your dog…

It’s full-on get outside time in RVA, when the pollen is gone, and the humidity hasn’t kicked into high gear just yet. Our fair city is here for it, too, with so many festivals, outdoor concerts, charity events, and even an awesome new water play area for the kids over…

When Marie heard about a friend who was fostering a child, she was surprised to hear that there were more than 5,000 children in foster care in Virginia and hundreds right here in Richmond. She recalled hearing her pastor’s message on Sunday morning about serving the needs of children in…

A wise and lovable loser with whom I spent many childhood Sunday afternoons once said, “The inside of a mailbox should always be kept clean in case you get a love letter.” A recent ant infestation of our mailbox left me sharing the same sentiment as my old friend from…

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection, affecting 13 million Americans a year. In most cases, our immune system removes the virus from the body, but for more than 30,000 Americans each year, HPV causes cancer. Since the HPV vaccine was introduced in 2006, HPV-related infections have…

To make hard boiled eggs, place eggs in a large saucepan and cover with at least one inch of water. Bring water to a boil over high heat. Let the water rapidly boil for 30 seconds, cover, and remove pan from heat. Let sit four to twelve minutes: four minutes…

It’s difficult to identify the exact moment Desirée Roots Centeio achieved living legend status in Richmond. The Grammy-nominated singer/actress has been performing for audiences since the age of five when she sang – or almost didn’t sing – her first paid solo at Cedar Street Memorial Baptist Church of God.…