Foolproof lunch ideas for kids have to satisfy two often-contradictory goals: a kid’s taste test and his parent’s “good food” definition. Adding to the difficult mix are websites and magazines with ridiculously ornate foods that more closely resemble artistic sculptures than the basis of a child’s lunch. No one but a Stepford wife would spend hours creating two-story decorative cupcakes that will hardly survive the trip out the door, much less the timeframe between arriving at school and lunchtime. The best advice for any parent is to take the workable ideas and modify them according to the home pantry contents and available lunch preparation time.

Single parenting would never be confused with a night on the town or a relaxing picnic, but it need not be overly stressful and/or frustrating. New single parents are most at risk for becoming overwhelmed.

However, remember, even in two parent households, babies and young children come with a strong “overwhelming quotient.”

Almost all newer single parents experience feelings of isolation and/or inadequacy. This is normal and this, too, shall pass, if you get yourself organized and committed to excellence. Here are some basic single parenting tips to become more self-confident, under control and comfortable.

Adopting a child is a life-changing event that induces both excitement and anxiety for potential parents. If you already have children at home, chances are that they are experiencing the same emotions. One of the most important parenting tips for adoptive families with other children is to talk to your kids about adoption and encourage the discussion of emotions and expectations. To help ease the transition for your children, it’s important to maintain an open dialogue with them throughout the adoption process, as well as after your new family member comes home.

It may be hard to believe, but summer is almost gone. It will soon be time for another school year. For some parents, that means a kindergartner attending school for the first time, or a teenager heading into their senior year of high school. For most, it’s somewhere in between. No matter where you fall on the back-to-school timeline, Gerber Life Insurance Company wants to ensure your child is prepared to achieve great things this year and for years to come.

Before you get the backpacks ready and school clothes lined up, let’s revisit some fun trivia questions you may have been asked when you were in school. After all, it’s never too late to learn, or–in this case–re-learn.

Starting a new school year on a positive note and maintaining that positivity is important for every student—and every parent, too. After all, a positive experience at school can make all the difference in a child’s confidence and performance. Enjoying school and performing well in the classroom is a goal that mom, dad and child can aim for together.

A. Before the school year begins
The steps you take leading up to the new school year can set the precedence for the year ahead. The following new school year ideas have worked for many parents: