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Sending Older Kids to Camp Proved Useful for Teaching My Little One Independence at Home

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With my three teens away at YoungLife sleepaway camp and husband at work in NYC, my youngest daughter and I embraced our first-ever mother-daughter week at our condo in Vermont. For seven days straight, she has set aside her identity as the baby of the family, and pulled her weight as a capable member of this household. At 10 years old, she is far from infancy, but when lumped together with our set of four kids, she defaults into the role of youngest. This week, without the distraction or crutch of older siblings and Dad around, my 10-year-old has stepped up into a variety of situations perfect for developing life skills and independence. After a week of mommy camp , my daughter is equipped with a new sense of confidence in her abilities. Much of what my youngest has experienced anew or for the first time this week falls into the category of household responsibilities. It’s amazing how reframing chores into one of the ways to spend special time with Mom transforms them from annoyances...
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"Color Pop Garden" Mural Brings Joy to Local Community

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Local students made their mark on their schoolyard this year, transforming it from a drab tan wasteland to a bright spot of cheer in the middle of Manhattan. The Upper East Side community watched with joyful anticipation as the Color Pop Garden mural took shape over the course of four fun work weeks. While teachers and parent volunteers like me sketched the design, directed traffic, and smoothed out the edges, the color-by-number mural was painted by nearly one thousand elementary school students. The result? In bringing the project outside the classroom, these kids gained a sense of ownership over the playground that is their favorite neighborhood hangout. Plus, chuckle-worthy memories flood my mind and a smile spreads across my face whenever I pass by the park and glimpse a stretch of our creation. Lessons Learned As classes came out to work on the mural, kids practiced life skills such as patience as they waited for their turn to paint, following directions as the art teacher assi...
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Here’s How to Manage the Craziness as You Apply to High School in New York City

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Is your child applying to high school in New York City? After an intense year of preparing for and hustling through 2025 public high school admissions, I have a few tips to share to keep you sane and organized rather than battered and frazzled. With more than 400 high schools and 700 distinct programs to choose from, my main takeaway is that NYC has a plethora of incredible and diverse options. I could picture each of my twins as well as their younger siblings thriving at many of these schools. My main frustration is that, even though my kids have stellar grades and attendance, their horrible lottery numbers drastically shorten the list of main application schools that are likely to offer them a seat. Thankfully, NYC has several categories of schools with a variety of admissions criteria, so we applied broadly and are hoping for the best as we wait until spring when offer letters arrive and waitlists move. START IN SEVENTH GRADE While it might seem like you just finished applying to mi...
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