vanessav
Born and raised in a suburb of Buffalo, NY, Vanessa moved to the Bronx, NY after college, where she met her husband and gradually migrated north together. Now they reside in Newtown, CT with their three children; two sons (2013 & 2019), a daughter (2016), two dogs - Gracie (2022 lab mix) and Penny (2022 pitbull mix), and three cats - Bella (a 14-year-old Persian cat), and Ozzy & Luna (2023 tabbies). By day she's a school administrator; by morning/night, she's a taxi for her kids' activities. In her "free time," she enjoys being in her pool or hiking with her family, listening to 80s/90s hip-hop, watching the Bills game, and sharing sarcastic mom memes with friends. You can follow @resiliencethrougheducation for more!
Troop Beverly Hills 2.0
I honestly never thought that out of all my kids, my daughter would be the one to get involved in scouts. My oldest son is all about living on the land, survival strategies, and...
What Happened to “The Village?”
In our town, most extracurricular activities in our intermediate school are held before school starts. As a dual-working household, we cannot get our son to any before-school activities. I felt awkward asking other parents...
My Baby is Going to Kindergarten
Sitting here, sipping on my iced coffee, I am overwhelmed with a whirlwind of emotions. You see, I registered my youngest child for kindergarten last month, marking the end of an era in my...
Saying Yes to Less
I asked fellow working moms what their priority is in the New Year, and the resounding answer was around setting boundaries and saying “no” to opportunities in the spirit of self-care. Why do women...
Sync, Plan, Thrive: Family Calendar Systems
Whether you have one or multiple children, keeping track of all the things is overwhelming. Especially at this time of year with all of the classroom, school, group holiday celebrations, school spirit days (pajamas,...
Bringing Back Kindness
Have you noticed a change in society in recent years? Less compassion, less patience, less grace, less tolerance, and less kindness? At first, following the COVID lockdown era, I thought and read a lot...
The Ultimate Family Car: The Volvo XC90
My family and I recently had a chance to try out the new Volvo XC90 for a weekend, courtesy of Riley Volvo Cars Stamford. What you’ve heard is true — it’s the ultimate family...
Starting the Year off Right With Homework and Study Skills
I can’t believe we are getting back into gear for school! As a type-A personality, I love planners, colored pens, Post-its, and various organizational systems. My kids do not share these passions.
As a middle...
Summer Sports Life
I look forward to summer because the days are longer, so I have more time with my family after work before bedtime. Ideally, I swim in the pool and hang out on the deck...
Best Wings in and Around Fairfield County
Chicken wings were invented by mistake in 1964 at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York. This is Buffalo’s claim to fame, along with the infamous snow each winter and our sports teams’ inability...