Mama

A mother recently found herself in a surprising predicament. She had unknowingly named her twins after famous TV characters and celebrities. What started as a coincidence has now turned into an uncomfortable situation as she faces constant comments and jokes from friends, family, and even strangers. Now, she is contemplating changing her children’s names to...

Chantel Brink

Chantel Brink

Family & Lifestyle Journalist

When young Marianne was approached by her neighbor, Mrs. Thorpe, to babysit her children for a week, she was excited about the opportunity. Babysitting wasn’t just a way to earn some pocket money for her; it was her first taste of responsibility and independence. Mrs. Thorpe had always been friendly, and her children were well-behaved,...

Chantel Brink

Chantel Brink

Family & Lifestyle Journalist

Laura Lee took to Facebook when school assistants sent home her son’s lunch after deeming it “unhealthy.” The lunch in question included carefully prepared sandwiches, grapes, crackers, cheese, cut vegetables, hummus, and three little cookies. In her post, she wrote, “I sent my 2.5 yr old son to school with this, and the cookies got sent home because...

Sarah Biren

Sarah Biren

Food Journalist

Parent-child relationships can be complex, especially as they mature into adult kids. While many parents maintain close and loving bonds with their adult children, others find themselves distanced and disconnected. Often, the reasons for this estrangement are traced back to key personality traits and behaviors exhibited during the child’s formative years. From emotional unavailability to...

Chantel Brink

Chantel Brink

Family & Lifestyle Journalist