If you’re like most new mothers (except for freakishly fit Heidi Klum, who seems unfairly untouched by this dilemma), around your little bundle’s first birthday you’ll start considering the following predicament: Do I (1) get really serious about fitting into my pre-pregnancy jeans now or (2) screw the waistline because I’m going to try to get […]

 One of the surest ways to make new friends is by having a baby. The pregnant belly is like a beacon for new buddies. You’ll end up with 25 new Facebook friends from your prenatal yoga class alone, and later find yourself at a park, shouting all the gory details of your labor and delivery […]

 Every year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture releases a frightening statistic: the lifetime cost of raising a child. It’s enough to scare any would-be parent into celibacy. According to the USDA’s 2009 report, the financial burden born by the average middle-income family from birth to the time the kid is kicked to the curb at […]

 For some women, the urge to have a baby comes on strong and seemingly out of nowhere. One day, they’re climbing the corporate ladder and enjoy-ing a life of spontaneous weekend getaways and the next, they’re dreaming of knitted booties and Stroller Fit classes. It can be that dra-matic and sudden. For a spouse or […]

 One of the biggest decisions to make before getting pregnant is how and whether you’ll continue to work and at what intensity. Maybe this is an easy, all-or-nothing answer for you (or maybe you don’t have a choice), and you’ll either continue to work full time or you’ll stay at home full time.  If it’s the […]

 Nothing is more frustrating than embarking on a home repair or improvement project and discovering you don’t have the right nail, nut or hanger for the job. Having to schlep to the hardware store for one measly 10 cent screw is never satisfying. You can avoid this recurring problem by stocking your toolbox with a […]

What I’ve learned from writing this column about clever home design for kids is that it’s not merely about organization. The families featured here this past year have inspired me with their thoughtful solutions to give kids exactly the kinds of spaces they need to live, play and work in their own unique manner. It […]

Visualize yourself at home in your senior years. What do you picture? Probably you see a place of comfort and vitality, with views of some golden pond or spaces for beloved hobbies. What you likely don’t imagine (or want to) are lonely or cramped quarters, orthopedic beds and strangers snoring next to you. Assisted living […]

 Here’s the myth: Once you’re pregnant, your sex life tanks, you can’t take any medication for your headaches and you can forget about dancing the night away or any other rigorous exercise.  Here’s the truth: Your sex life actually can be fantastic during pregnancy, because pregnancy hormones make your sensitive parts super sensitive (read: The […]

Problem: Designing a bug-free, fresh air play space “We feel really strongly about our kids being outside as much as possible,” says Whitney Morrill, mom of two and architect, owner and founder of design firm Woollerton Edifice PLLC. “But we needed to give them a sanctuary from Charlottesville’s heat and mosquito mafia.”   Particularly between […]