Healthy Expat Parent

We are at a very interesting and confounding point in our human evolution: Never before have edible items been so readily available.  At the same time, never before have diet-related diseases been the number cause of death. We have access - easy, ready access- to food,...

I read somewhere that the 15 habits or character traits that are most frequently noted for people who are considered to be ‘lucky’ are:

1.  They work harder.
2.  They complain less.
3.  They like to and are willing to teach others.
4.  They regularly...

Technically, one could say we are advancing as a society.  We have gadgets and gizmos galore, and we can read, shop, or chat at any given moment, in any location.  We can search any topic. We can call any point of the globe. We can connect.  Except, technically, we don...

It is interesting to me the effort some go to in order to be insulted.  Why are we so quick to take offense?  

Example 1: I watched a number of sports games over the past several weekends; after school activities are in full swing, therefore so are the games.  Game...

Life with kids is full of ... really, it’s just full.  So many details to think about, to worry about, to lose sleep over.   Let’s focus on what is important, shall we?

Things not worth fighting about with your kids

1.  Hair length.  Okay, there is a point where it...

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I love avocados.  I think I could enjoy them every day, and not get bored.  Life, it seems, is much like avocados.

The avocado principle:

1. If you wait until you really want an avocado, the market won’t have any ripe ones. You need to buy them in advance.

2. If...

If you are a working mom, you need to hear this. 

If you are in a relationship with or married to a working mom, you need to hear this.

If your mom is a working mom, you need to hear this.

I am a working mom, and you should know I am doing the best that I can.

I feel as th...

Let’s talk about food.   More specifically, Let’s talk about teenagers and the abundance of food they are capable of consuming.  It’s amazing, isn’t it, the mountain of food they can ingest (especially in one sitting or after just an hour after already having consumed...

Eeny meeny miny moe!

One of the things you embrace about being a Foreign Service spouse is that you know you will get to set up house repeatedly in various settings.  It’s a fact of life: We move frequently.  We move repeatedly.  We have to be (or, perhaps more accurate...

I read this a while ago on a site I can’t remember and it really stuck in my mind.  Not just rules for us, but also rules for us to help our little people learn/own, as well.

Rules for being Human

1.  You will receive a body.

2.  You will learn lessons.

3.  There are no mi...

Are we taking this ‘being mindful’ business too far?  Let’s be completely honest: is it really that important to ‘tune in and connect’?  Yes, absolutely, 100%.  While we are on the topic, though, as much as it is helpful to talk about what mindfulness IS, it is just as...

My dearest boys, 

So excited!  School is starting today!  Summer was so fun, but … let’s be honest: it’ll be great to see your friends, right?  What fun it will be to tell them all about your summer, your adventures, and your triumphs!  So much and so little has changed...