Hello Friends! Congrats on making it to March. That means it's time to kick off our heels and coast until June, right? Alas, it is not so.

Most school districts begin their fourth quarter after spring break, which means we have 25% of the school year left (I know). Encourage strong study habits and family routines, which are as crucial as ever. Here are some ideas to keep your family sane.

Have you ever sat down to focus on a task, stopped to do "one quick thing," and two hours later, you don't know where the time went, but you sure didn't mean to organize your junk drawer? Or, in my case, look at Pinterest for ideas on how to organize your junk drawer. It happens. Luckily, the Pomodoro Method** is a lifesaver that helps your child (and you) focus.

While homework changes can be challenging for kids, they can also be difficult for parents. But fear not; these strategies are designed to help you and your child navigate this new terrain. After-school time management involves executive functioning, schedules, and a lot of patience. Not sure where to begin? Try these action items and see the difference they can make.

We interrupt your daily dose of snark to get a little more real. I started this blog partially to provide real-world "you're not crazy" tips on navigating the middle school years. However, there's more to parenting than your kid driving you up the wall. Like always, I never have the answers for anything, but I can start with my story and see if it resonates with others.

Like the terrible twos, parents know about puberty from an intellectual perspective. You lose your child at 12, you get them back when they're 25, and their brain is finally done developing.

I know.

And how do I survive those 13-odd years, you ask? While I'm not an expert on anything, here are a few tips…