Author: Kara Bachman

The city of New Orleans — the birthplace of jazz — is about a five-hour drive from the Mississippi Delta, the birthplace of the blues. As both places are home to some of the world’s most influential music, they share the common bond of both having a huge influence on the wider American popular culture. If you’ve never driven the five hours to introduce your kids to New Orleans, it makes for a great summer vacation. But this year, April is also an ideal time to take a weekend trip to explore the music, food and culture of the...

Often, losing a family pet — whether due to old age or health issues — can be a tremendous blow to a family and cause lasting grief among adults as well as children. Pet “parents” might feel as if they have lost one of their “babies,” and children — who often relate to beloved pets as if they were special friends or confidantes — are often left with a sense of upheaval and loneliness. It’s never easy, but according to Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio, there are things families can do to make the loss of a family dog, cat, rabbit,...

Parents: Now that spring is here, we’ve entered a season of freshness, renewal, and planning for the future. For many parents, that planning involves scheduling summer trips for the family and registering kids for summer camps. I’m grappling with these issues myself; we’re trying to decide whether or not to enroll my teenage daughter in a theater camp this summer, and whether or not to take a summer vacation. It’s not too early to plan for these things. In fact, the time is now, before your camp of choice is filled! Don’t let it sneak up on you. It’s...