Thinking about travel sports for your young athlete? Whether they’re just starting at the young age of seven or competing in high school, it’s a big commitment for the whole family. We’ll break down the biggest benefits and the toughest challenges of joining a travel team—so you can decide what’s best for your kid (and your sanity). Although times have changed, this modern grandparent can help you navigate your way.

Hi there, I'm Grandma—though around here, I proudly answer to "Carma." And let me tell you something: I make noise. Where does this behavior come from? When I was a kid, our house was never quiet. We had chaos in every corner—pots clanging in the kitchen, doors creaking open and slamming shut, siblings arguing over who would get up to change the channel, and someone always hollering from another room. And you know what? My baby sister could sleep right through it all. The hum of life became her lullaby. That everyday noise—the comforting kind that fills a home—was just part of my growing up.

While most kids were squeezing in one last pool day or perfecting their end-of-summer tan, I was clocking out of my shift at the family store. That’s right — while my friends spent their summer breaks lifeguarding or flipping burgers, I was mastering the art of organizing shelves and unpacking endless deliveries. Forget campfires and s’mores; I had the distinct aroma of cardboard boxes and dust to keep me company.

It's that time of year again — the leaves are changing, the backpacks are packed, and Catholic school kids everywhere are dusting off their plaid skirts and clip-on ties. While the rest of the world is bracing for the chaos of school supply aisles, Catholic school families have their own unique back-to-school checklist:

Labor Day: that magical Monday when Americans everywhere fire up the grill, slap on sunscreen, and ceremoniously wave goodbye to summer. For kids, it often means one last hurrah before school kicks in. But what if we made Labor Day more than hot dogs and cannonballs into the pool? What if it became a launchpad to teach our kids the value of hard work?

Ah, summer. That magical stretch of time where bedtime becomes a suggestion, popsicles become a food group, and reading... well, let's just say the only thing most kids were reading was the pool rules sign (and even then, only under duress). Now, as the scent of freshly sharpened pencils fills the air, it's time to gently coax our young ones back into the wonderful world of books.

Fear not, parents and teachers! Rebuilding that reading habit doesn't mean cracking open an encyclopedia. The right stories can reignite curiosity, tickle funny bones, and, most importantly, make kids fall in love with learning all over again. Here's a handpicked list of 13 delightful pre-K through 2nd-grade reads that will help ease the transition and spark a joy for reading.

Corn is knee-high by the Fourth of July and ready to be harvested in September in the Midwest. Our family lived in the suburbs of Chicago, but some relatives had a farm in Northern Illinois. Subsistence farmers. This type of farming primarily grows food to feed themselves and their families. They use very low-tech methods. Hey, we're talking about the 1960s: no Wi-Fi, no cell phones, no computers, and no iPods.

Weddings have always been about love, family, and at least one grandma breaking it down to the Macarena like it's 1995. But the way we say “I do” has had more costume changes than a Broadway diva — from corsets and petticoats to bell-bottoms and bedazzled veils.