From At-Risk to OKConstant, intense stimulation, pressure to do more and better, media and peer pressure, and life's everyday changes bombard kids from all directions. Living in atmospheres of poverty, crime and abuse puts additional enormous stress on families and children.
Steps to AdoptionChoosing to adopt is a major decision that can reap rewarding and unfathomable benefits of giving an orphaned child a place to call home.
Hard DecisionsIf you are a child with aging parents, or a caring parent with foresight for your children, here are some of the documents that will help you deal with end of life decisions. As difficult as they may be to …
Co-housing NowThe decrease in the number of Americans participating in bowling leagues since 1950 is just one example of America's movement toward isolated communities. Robert Putnam uses this example in the book "Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community" …
Growing Herbs: Kid-Friendly GardeningA handful of culinary herbs are easy to grow and useful in the kitchen—even for new gardeners with little space and for those (including kids) who are too busy to learn about "real" gardening.
How to Live in a Multi-Generational HouseholdThe number of people living in multi-generational households has steadily increased over the last three decades, according to the Pew Research Center. As of 2008, 49 million Americans lived in households consisting of adult children living with their parents, grandchildren …
Family CommunicationFamilies live farther apart than ever. Several tech tools can help you keep in touch from afar. Here are some tips for staying in touch.
Planning an Ideal Neighborhood for KidsAn ideal neighborhood for children begins with including children in the planning process. This doesn't mean families, developers or planners put in an amusement park with ice cream stands on every block. It means professionals and adults take children's ideas …
Groups That Support FamiliesEven families have hard times, and need some form of help. Thankfully, there are groups of people and organizations that are willing to help. If you don't need the help, why not help these folks out by either donating time …
Making An Urban FamilyWhen Beth Kander moved to Jackson in 2003, she hardly knew anyone. Kander, an author and playwright who has also written for the Jackson Free Press, was far from her family in the Midwest and her college friends in the …
I-55, RevisitedBetter Than Ezra burst onto the national rock scene in 1995 with the hit single, "Good." Formed while its members attended Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge in 1988, Better Than Ezra has been a rock staple for more than …
Schoolhouse RockMany musicians here live an almost "Hannah Montana" lifestyle—going to school daily as a teacher, yet rocking the masses at night. I've been teaching 11 years in the Jackson metro area, and even my one-man band Clinton started out as …
Simple SuppersI don't know if the sky has always been this blue, or if the long and unusually harsh winter this year has made me enjoy the sunshine that much more. But lately, I've felt very much like Dorothy in "The …
A Rez-olution.Every year about this time I start thinking about vacation. The only hang up is that I'm a working girl with vacation days, and they're limited. So I've begun negotiations. What use am I really when I spend the days …
Thanks for BrooklynIt seemed everyone knew one another, and always, always someone was looking out and watching over the kids.