Real Advice. Real Life.

Straight-talk advice on marriage, parenting, work and the everyday crossroads of life. From a longtime wife, mom, and marketing VP who’s been there. Welcome.

Category: Parenting

  • On Boys Named Mitch

    Mitch? That boy’s name is Mitch? Who names their kid Mitch? Mitch is a dad’s name. But then he’d be Mr Mitchell, right? The 5 y.o. who is clearly not…

  • On Rap Music

    The Mom: That sounds like the start of a rap song. You’re a little white girl in a Volvo. That’s just wrong. The 9 y.o.: I’m droppin’ a beat. And…

  • “Recognize limitations; no one can do everything. When you have done the best you can, be satisfied and don’t look back and second-guess, wondering how you could have done more.…

  • Want to know more about Mormons? Cool infographic from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

  • On Palindromes

    Palindrome should be spelled the same backwards. And the word ‘abbreviation’ should be shorter. The 13 y.o.

  • On Chores

    The 13 y.o.: I HATE vacuuming! The 9 y.o.: Oooo! YOU SAID A BAD WORD! The 13 y.o.: What? Vacuuming?

  • Love is spelled T-I-M-E. Wonderful inspiration from President Dieter F Uchtdorf’s October 2010 General Conference talk, Of Things That Matter Most. My favorite quote:  In family relationships love is really spelled t-i-m-e, time. Taking…

  • On World Wars

    The 13 y.o.: I figured out why Spain was neutral during World War 1. Fascism. Which I learned was where the rich people stay in control as the country turns…

  • On Cakes

    The Dad: We need to go to the grocery store. Apparently I bought the wrong kind of cake mix. The 5 y.o.: There’s no such thing as the wrong kind…

  • Mormonism and the Media: Peggy Fletcher Stack on how reporters can be right and still get it wrong

    Extracted from Colombia University’s Conference on Mormonism and American Politics:  With a Mormon candidate for the presidency and the unprecedented media attention given to Mormons recently, this conference takes a broad view…

Scarlett of Suburbia shares personal opinions and general life perspective for entertainment and informational purposes only. It is not professional, medical, psychological, legal, or financial advice, and no columnist-reader relationship is created by reading this site or sending a message. For serious concerns, please consult a qualified professional. Submissions may be published, edited for length or clarity, and shared anonymously.