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RAISING ARIZONA KIDS history

An older, wiser mom

My son Andy's birthday is today. He's 26 years old. The number makes me gasp. My thoughts are pulled back to the weeks surrounding his...

A "snow day" at RAK

When I got to work Thursday morning I could tell it was going to be one of "those" days. Sadie Smeck, our editorial intern, couldn't...

Affirmation — and a challenge — from colleagues in the press

Last night, the Arizona Press Club honored journalists from statewide publications large and small with awards for exceptional work in reporting, writing, photography and...

Powered by interns

When you run a small media company like ours, maintaining a steady stream of capable interns is the difference between muddling through and really...

A celebration at Phoenix Children's Hospital

As we approached the table where pediatrician and newly minted author Randy Christensen, M.D. was autographing copies of his book, we joked about being...

The more things change…

In April of 1990, we published our second edition of Raising Arizona Kids. The members of our staff (all six of us) were young...

100 mompreneurs and counting

It was longtime Raising Arizona Kids contributor Brittney Walker who came up with the idea of running a weekly feature on our website about...

Like grandfather, like grandchildren

The last time I sat in the kitchen at MaryAnn Ortiz Lieb's house was a joyous occasion. Her lovely and accomplished daughter, Juliann, had...

Celebrating my birthday at Camp Fair

I have to admit that I wasn't all that excited, at first, to realize that Camp Fair was going to fall on my birthday...

Set-up? Check.

The signs are posted. The pipe-and-draping is up. The tables are covered in Cub Scout colors of navy, gold and white, with two chairs...

Ready for Camp Fair, with thanks to the Emmas

We have two wonderful interns from Chaparral High School: Emma Zang-Schwartz (left), who is the editor of the school newspaper and typically helps in our...

Monkey business and many caps

When my sons were small I loved reading the book Caps for Sale with them. The story, about a peddlar whose inventory of caps...

A fitting tribute to women

I was in the neighborhood Hallmark store looking for a birthday card when I stumbled upon one of those refrigerator magnets designed to amuse...

Making something on the Internet disappear

Here's an interesting twist on the warning that "once it's on the Internet, it's there forever." That's something parents typically tell high school or college...

They always come back

I got an email from Stage Mom blogger and longtime magazine contributor Lynn Trimble today. She asked me a question about something she was...

A chance to play Santa

Except for a brief moment of restful regrouping during the Thanksgiving weekend, my staff has been working around the clock for weeks. It's "that...

Party Articles

Out-of-the Box Birthday Party Ideas

Wanting to do something a little extra special for your child’s next birthday party? Maybe it’s a milestone birthday—like turning double digits or entering...

Party Etiquette

Whether you’re hosting a party or attending one, you may be wondering—do people really RSVP anymore? What about goodie bags, are those still a...

How to Throw a Birthday Party that Won’t Break the Bank

I remember the days when birthday parties consisted of colorful balloons, streamers, a simple cake, and the classics like musical chairs and tag with...

How to do a drive-by birthday party

As we get deeper into quarantine, people have gotten creative with birthday celebrations. One result: the drive-by birthday party.

Home pool party? Hire a lifeguard!

Drowning happens silently and quickly. That’s why children are at risk even when — and sometimes especially when — adults are nearby. Even a "designated...