If money is tight, perhaps you’re getting out of debt, or you’ve just been traveling a lot, then maybe a staycation is right for you. What is a staycation? According to the Urban Dictionary, a staycation is “a vacation that is spent at one's home enjoying all that home and one's home environs have to offer.” You take a break from life without le... Read More

“My father didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.” - Clarence Budington Kelland Read More

“Who is to make sure that our children’s sense of wonder grows indestructible with the years? We are. You and I.” - Katherine Paterson, A Sense of Wonder Read More

“Teach your young children to work, and teach them that honest labor develops dignity and self-respect. Help them to find pleasure in work and to feel the satisfaction that comes from a job well done.” - Joseph B. Wirthlin Read More

Ever experience too much busy? I’ve started nicknaming it “bad busy.” It’s that moment when you realize your schedule resembles the lineup for the Olympic Games. Finding ways to carve out family time when life gets “bad busy” becomes as easy as chasing a dropped receipt on a windy day. Read More

I remember preparing for parenthood, looking at my living space, and feeling overwhelmed by it all. Caring for a child was huge. How would I ever be ready? As I researched baby-proofing techniques, I felt even more out of my depth. So, what did I do? I over prepared. In hindsight, I realize I burned up a lot of time and resources by doing so. Fo... Read More

For decades, the dinner table has symbolized coming together. It stands for family, friendship, quality time, and provision. However, the generation gap, the busyness of life, and the power of screens are waging war on that nuclear family tradition. What can parents do when conversation is replaced with disconnected silence? To answer that quest... Read More

In light of recent events, we’re taking a closer look at how homeschooling families operate. If homeschooling is a path you’re interested in taking with your children, temporarily or long-term, we hope this may give you a little insight. We’ve collected responses from several families who’ve explained their reasons for homeschooling and what tha... Read More

Travel back in time to your childhood. When did the concept of money first enter the picture? Was it a grand mystery or did you have people in your life take time to instruct you on its purpose? Were there any bad habits you observed? Any good habits you tried to adopt? Read More

Do you remember experiencing a deep sense of gratitude as a child? I can remember Christmas in our little house. My three brothers and I knew we only had a few wrapped bundles under the tree. Dinner was either a homemade casserole or chili. The TV spent most of the day collecting dust as we read the Christmas story together, opened presents, and... Read More

What’s the best parenting advice someone gave you? Perhaps you read a book or heard someone speak on the subject and it gave you a fresh perspective. Read More

A “playdate”, according to Merriam-Webster.com, is “a play session for small children arranged in advance by their parents.” Sounds so simple, right? It doesn’t feel that way when the whole event is resting on your shoulders. Many moms have been in your shoes. In fact, I recently took to social media and asked the pros for their favorite hacks t... Read More

If you’re in the market for making some awesome memories with your family this year, but a vacation isn’t exactly in the budget, don’t toss in the towel on that dream yet. Commercials may tell you happiness only comes when you choose extravagance like Hawaii or “magic” like Disney, but they’re not the only roads to family fun. Let’s talk about t... Read More

Potty training is such a mystery before you have children, isn’t it? When I look at a graduating class of seniors, I think to myself, “They figured out how to manage their bodily functions. Odds are I can teach my own kids how to properly use a toilet before they leave for college.” (OK, so we start a bit earlier than that.) In case you’re in th... Read More

Holiday prep is in full swing, the seasons have changed; and if you’re like me, you’re wanting to hibernate all winter but need to keep your kids busy, get Christmas gifts completed, and want to make some precious family memories all at the same time. A solution? Read More

Schedules are jam-packed and larger quantities of time can be much harder to come by these days. But you don’t have to sacrifice quality time! Spending a ton of money or planning extravagant vacations isn’t necessary for creating lasting memories and stronger bonds with your kids. Start by scheduling out family fun nights at home. Be sure to mar... Read More

We’re big fans of family game night over here. And we’re not the only ones. An Ohio State University study reports that quality time as a family is one of the biggest catalysts for children becoming successful in life. Fun and a catalyst of success: Bonus!  Read More

We touch our phones 2,617 a day. Crazy, right? A study from the dscout research team revealed this shocking average. Mankind is more connected than ever, and yet, families can grow more distant due to these screens. That’s why we’ve put together our list of seven screen-free activities for families. Read More

Parenting is one of the most popular topics discussed in the cyber world today. And for good reason. I’ve got three children and welcome all the advice, encouragement, or knee-slapping humor about our tiny humans that I can get. Read More

To Integrate (in·​te·​grate | \ ˈin-tə-ˌgrāt  \ integrated; integrating) means to form, coordinate, or blend into a functioning or unified whole, to incorporate into a larger unit, to unite with something else. (Merriam-Webster)  Read More

No school. A full day at home. What should you do? We get the dilemma. Helping families is at the core of Home Reserve’s mission. Your options for at-home activities is vast, so we took a look at 15 unique options for your family to try from home. Some are educational, some constructive, some active, and all of them fun.  Read More