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If you’ve been experiencing more screen time battles in your home over the last few years, you’re not alone. Since the pandemic, kids’ tech use has jumped dramatically—in fact, many teens and tweens spend 6-8 hours each day using screens. The downside of too much tech Kids today often have dysfunctional relationships with their devices. Excessive screen use has been linked to a higher risk of sleep and mood disorders, lower grades, eye fatigue, low self-esteem and FOMO (fear of missing out), irritability and aggression, and even manic symptoms. I’ve had some challenging conversations with my daughters about app access… Read More
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3/49 A Moment for My 15th Mother’s Day as a Mom This reflection is a part of my yearlong project, Present at 49: An Invitation to Notice. My 15th Mother’s Day as a mom passed this weekend. There were cards, flowers, and food. There were laughs, hugs, and kisses. There were times of frustration, and some yelling too. Such is life as a mom. The roller coaster ride continues, and the dips are here so I can experience and remember the contrast of the highs more deeply. And you know what? Even if I wasn’t a mom, this would be… Read More
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In the depths of a long Canadian winter, I started something that combines my love of books, walks, and connecting with people: Book & Trail Club, a free gathering for parents of teens and tweens who are interested in fresh air, fresh perspectives, and peer support. Sign Up for Book & Trail Club This month is the third instalment of this community event, and I’m joined by my friend Bonnie Chan who is co-hosting the outing with me. So if you’re a fellow book and nature-loving parent, come and join us! It’s a small group gathering to encourage supportive sharing and deep… Read More
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It’s been a little over a year since my podcast, Raising the Next Gen, launched. So I decided to take a look back on the 36 episodes published so far, and create a workshop that distills the rich conversations from the podcast into key learnings to share. I held my first workshop recently where I shared 5 Shifts to Go from Conflict to Connection with Your Teens and Tweens, and I wanted to share the replay with you, my valued readers. Inside, we talked about how to: The replay will be available until 10pm Thursday, April 30, 2026. Watch the… Read More
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2/49 A Moment for the Easter Egg Hunt This reflection is a part of my yearlong project, Present at 49: An Invitation to Notice. I’m trying to complete something on my to-do list, and the kids are pestering me again: “Can we have an Easter egg hunt this year?” My knee-jerk reaction is to say, “Aren’t you too old for that? We haven’t had an Easter egg hunt for a few years now.” (The kids are 12 and 14 at the time of this ask.) “No, we’re not, it’ll be fun,” they say. “I can just get you some chocolate… Read More
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1/49 A Moment for My Tears This reflection is a part of my yearlong project, Present at 49: An Invitation to Notice. The sun was yet to rise as I stood in front of the stove in my pajamas, stirring the spaghetti sauce. It almost felt meditative, and in that moment, I felt at peace. And then the tears flowed. I swiped the wetness from my eyes. But then I stopped trying to stop the tears, as I’d so often done in the past. What am I feeling, why am I crying? As I leaned over the kitchen sink, hands… Read More
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Tidying up after dinner, I see the sun casting a glow on the houses and trees across the street in that familiar quality called golden hour. It pulls me. Shedding my dish gloves, I ask my family if they’d like to go for a walk. This time, they decline. I continue. At 16 degrees Celsius (10 with windchill), it’s absolutely balmy after a harsh winter. Walking solo on a path I’ve been on countless times before, I’m reminded that being in this place, at this time, is a singular moment, and it will never happen again. We often think of… Read More
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Before a child can walk on their own, they fall about 2,500 times. And every single time, we cheered them on. So why do we expect our teens and tweens to get it right on the first try? Check out my signature talk, “It’s All About the Baby Steps” from the Kind Voice of Impact™, A Night of Inspiring Voices event. In this talk, I share a powerful reframe for parents of older kids that’s rooted in the same patience, grace, and guidance we gave our toddlers. It’s something I remind myself often: It’s not about perfection. It’s about baby… Read More
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You know what’s cool about celebrating Lunar New Year in 2026? It’s that my kids don’t have to hide their cultural traditions or feel weird about them. When I was a kid, I led a dual life. I didn’t tell people that I loved watching Chinese dramas with my grandma, or that I had crushes on Hong Kong pop stars. I didn’t talk about going to Chinese school on Saturdays, the numerous yearly traditional celebrations, or the food we ate at home. (I brought sandwiches to school like everyone else: peanut butter & jelly, or tuna, or bologna.) There weren’t… Read More
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As I’m caring for my kids and my parents, I’m reminded of those little things, the habits, the practices, the mindsets that help us grow, no matter our age. I see parallels in what I say to the young and elderly: “Try something new, you don’t know what you don’t know” “Writing things by hand will help with your memory recall” “It’s ok to make mistakes” “It’s good for you to take a break from your screens, move your body and go outside for some fresh air” “What you focus on grows” And well, I these are also all good… Read More