By Carrie Salvatore

You made it through the Terrible Twos—the tantrums, the power struggles, the overwhelming sense of “What now?”; only to find yourself, years later, staring down the next developmental storm: Middle School. And what a storm it is, hopefully this will help you navigagte this voyage.

Welcome to the Terrible “Toos,” Part Two.

Middle School—whether you call it Junior High, the tween years, or simply grades 6 through 8—is a time of profound transformation for children and parents alike. It’s second only to the astonishing growth of the first four years of life. Think back: From birth to age four, your child went from total dependency to walking, talking, and asserting independence at every turn. Now, brace yourself, because you’re about to experience that all over again—only this time, with hormones, identity development, and social dynamics layered on top amidst growing challenges academically at school. (more…)

By Suzie Stern

Over time, after October 7, I heard the voices of Jewish community leaders in the diaspora (thank you for your advocacy and leadership) urging me to be a loud and proud Jew. But I did not feel loud. I felt helpless, weak, and wordless. Proud Jew? Yes. But, what did my Jewishness actually mean to me? I wanted to be a loud and proud Jew, but I didn’t know how – or even fully why.

So, I embarked on a journey of Jewish learning. Thank you to Jewish authors such as Sarah Hurwitz, Zibby Owens, Alan Morinis and others. Thank you Rabbi Leder, Rabbi Hirsch, Rabbi Brous, Rabbi Cosgrove, Rabbi Stutman, Rabbi Buchdahl, Rabbi Wildes and others for your books and podcasts. Keep speaking, keep writing– we need and are counting on you. I have found comfort, wisdom, and guidance in your words. Beyond that, I have found the pathway I was searching for after October 7 as a mother of two wonderful girls. (more…)

Elizabeth Lutsky, MA BCET and Lainie Donnell, MA ET/P

Co-Founders of LiLa Learning, LLC.

After a long, hot summer of lazy days that bleed into night, getting back into a routine at the start of the new school year can feel overwhelming for students and parents alike. Fortunately, we have some tips and strategies to help ease this inevitable, yet exciting, transition.

PICKING YOUR WORKSPACE: It all starts with a well-stocked, functional workspace. We highly recommend getting started before the school year begins. (more…)

By Randi Ball
As a lifelong New Yorker and a mom, I never imagined a place where I could slow down without giving up the rhythm and energy I love. But that’s exactly what I found in The Hamptons. What started as summer weekends eventually turned into a full-time move, and raising my children here has brought balance, beauty, and an unexpected sense of ease to our lives.

Finding Harmony Between Hustle and Hamptons

I still carry that New York hustle—strong coffee, tight schedules, big goals—but here, I’ve learned to move through it with more grace. My days are packed—real estate deals, school runs, client calls—but there’s something about doing it all under a watercolor sky with the sound of the ocean never far off that shifts your whole mindset. (more…)

By Shirin Yadegar

This Mother’s Day, I want to remind all of us: we are not machines.

We were not brought into this world to be Uber drivers, short-order cooks, maids, or tutors. We were brought into this world to create, to laugh, to love, and to live fully. And yet, somewhere between the laundry piles and lunch boxes, we can forget that.

As a mother of four daughters, I’ve learned that our children are always watching. More than listening to what we say, they absorb how we live. They take note of how we treat ourselves, how we treat others, and how we move through the world. And those quiet observations shape them more than any speech ever will. (more…)