Fredericksburg Parent and Family

THE PROBLEM: My 14 yo daughter is a know-it-all. I wish I could say something nicer than that, but she’s getting on my last nerve. Whenever anybody tells her anything, she says: “I already knew that,” even if she clearly didn’t. But even worse, she’ll add a detail to make sure everybody sees she knows more than they do. When she’s got her facts mixed up, she’ll have some vague excuse, which always circles back around to her being right. Even though I say it bugs me, it actually makes me sad. Her needing to be right is off-putting not just to me, but to her brother and her friends, too.

Rappahannock Area Community Services Board wants parents to understand the risks faced by today’s teens. In early May, the Prince William County Police Department issued an urgent warning to parents. “We implore parents and guardians to take immediate action to actively engage with their children and loved ones as...

July 28, 2022—Scientists believe that biological indicators found in the retina can help make diagnosing ADHD and autism easier. In a study published by Frontiers of Neuroscience as reported by California 18, researchers concluded that an eye test could help distinguish the conditions in patients. While ADHD occurs most...

Everett Cadden shares the joy of being a new dad ahead of his first Father’s Day. “My father didn’t tell me how to live. He lived and let me watch him do it.” — Clarence Budington Kelland. Fatherhood is a special rite of passage for men....

There is nothing I love more than sitting down to a hot lunch! I’m not a cold sandwich kind of person, so I usually heat up leftovers or prepare a stir fry or Asian rice bowl just for myself. But when the weather heats up and eating lighter is a more desirable way to lunch, there are plenty of healthy options to whip up for those of us who prefer something a bit more complex than a peanut butter sandwich!

June 27, 2022—St. Margaret’s School announced its third-trimester honor and merit rolls in a press release on Thursday. St. Margaret’s, an Episcopal all-girls boarding and day school for grades 8-12 and postgraduate, is also known for its rigorous STEAM curriculum. The school honored the following students for academic excellence:

Every father leaves a legacy—his own personal mark—that touch the lives of those who come after him, beginning with his children and continuing for many generations to come. This legacy is written every day through his demonstrations of hard work and sacrifice, by his steady dedication and with bold acts of love.

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. Imagine summer camp—but for demigods. At Camp Half-Blood, the children of Greek gods and goddesses train to use the powers their immortal parent has given them. This story includes plenty of friendly camp competition with a fantasy twist! Tack on a good mystery, an iconic trio, and a quest that goes even beyond the campgrounds, and you’ve got yourself the makings of a real page-turner.

The world is full of technology. And our technology is getting smarter every day. Some of it is smart enough to drive cars, to paint pictures, to play chess. But can any of those artificial intelligences out there help you be a better dad? I thought I’d ask some and find out! (Ok, ok, I admit, this is my most tenuously fatherhood-adjacent idea for a blog post so far. I’ve just been really fascinated by AI research lately. So sue me.)

THE PROBLEM: I’m afraid my son is addicted to video games. He’s twelve, and he’s a sweet boy, but he only seems to be truly happy when he’s playing his favorite video game. I do limit the time he spends on screens at home (one hour a day), but I have no control over what he does at other kids’ homes. Sometimes, he sneaks a few hours when I’m not home (he admits this!), but I don’t want to over-dramatize the situation by locking his game up (or removing a cable) when I leave the house. I am at a loss as to what to do.

Looking for a great place to hike, explore history and spend some time with the family, including the furry, four-legged variety? Stafford County’s Government Island, a 17-acre park, nature preserve and historic and archaeological site is sure to interest the entire family. The scenic heritage trail includes signs to...

June 13, 2022—Preaching the dangers of the world to your children could have negative consequences, reports The Journal of Positive Psychology. Psychologist Jeremy Clifton says we sum our world views up in our perception of “how dangerous it is, how fun it is, how stable it is, and so forth.”

Sunny skies and warmer temperatures mean it’s time for less screentime and more green time. And not just for the kids! Summer is the perfect excuse for the entire family to set aside their electronic devices and get plugged into mother nature. Back in 2005, author Richard Louv coined...

June 8, 2022—Studies show that there is a connection between ADHD and certain eating disorders, such as binge eating. Researchers believe that approximately one-third of people who binge eat have ADHD. Binge eating happens when children overeat out of boredom rather than hunger. Children with ADHD gravitate toward food as stimulation to overcome boredom and will often fixate on the novelty of certain foods until those foods become unexciting for them and they choose another.

I’m in the middle of a lovely two-week stay at a beach house rental in the Outer Banks. We’re lucky enough to go every year, and it’s generally a great time. I get to spend time at the beach and get a good amount of reading in. I get to enjoy some good food and good drinks. But it’s different than vacations without kids. A LOT different.

It’s summertime in the ‘Burg! My boys love to get outside and enjoy all that our city has to offer, but this frugal-minded momma needs balance in our family’s entertainment budget. By sprinkling in some free and inexpensive activities, I can fulfill the daily ask of “what are we doing today” without breaking the bank.

May 31, 2022—Findings in a study published in Child Development show a circular relationship between harsh parenting styles and child behavior. Harsh parenting, as defined by the study, included yelling and spanking. The study suggested that children’s behavioral problems and maladaptive parenting have a bidirectional relationship, with each increasing the other—the more aggressive the parenting, the more expressive the negative behavior and vice versa.

May 30, 2022—Remember when $30 would cover the cost of a teen babysitter while you and your spouse enjoyed a three-hour dinner and stroll on the town? In 2022, that amount won’t get you past your dinner reservation. Babysitters are in such high demand that the rate of...

June 3, 2022—The Central Rappahannock Regional Library will be offering lunches at select branches throughout the summer. According to its website, children and teens 18 and under can get lunch daily at the library’s Fredericksburg, Salem Church, and Snow branches. For additional food services in your neighborhood, text...

THE PROBLEM: My son (9 yo) has a bad habit of blaming people. (He blames our dog, too, if something gets knocked over or eaten.) He’s constantly ‘telling’ on his two sisters, and it doesn’t matter WHO did WHAT, I can never get a straight story from him. It’s always their fault. His teacher is also the ‘bad guy,’ and ‘everybody is always picking on him.’ The worst is during games, when ‘the coach never lets him play,’ or ‘James missed that fly ball and lost the game,’ even though the ball clearly landed practically at my son’s feet. I’m in a weird spot when I try to address this, because I feel like I’m constantly pointing out how my son is at fault, which isn’t helpful. I’m a little stuck here.