The idea of summer camp can be daunting for both parents and kids, especially if a child has never been. How do you even know if your child is ready to go to camp?

It’s a common refrain among parents: “I’d do anything for my children.” And while that’s certainly true of most, a few families are taking the phrase a bit more literally than others. DIY culture is on the rise, inspired by HGTV and similar home shows, as well as the show-and-tell nature of …

How do you prefer to live? Do you take the time to treat yourself well at home? Do you do things in your home that make you happy and feel good? 

When Judy Davis was the youngest of four children growing up in Bakersfield, Califorinia, she swam and played badminton — but never competitively, unless vying against her siblings counts. 

The internet, turbocharged with my smartphone, has made me a jack of many trades. Chef extraordinaire, plumbing expert and political pundit are among the many hats I have worn this past month, much to my family’s delight and dismay. 

Back in elementary school, there were short quizzes of about 20 multiplication problems that you had to try to complete in one minute. For most young minds, those 60 seconds were seriously stressful.

Does your child erase and redo homework over and over again until it’s just right? Is anything less than 100 percent not good enough for him or her?

First, it’s an $800 replacement water heater, then a nest of roof rats in the attic that need an exterminator’s attention. Next you hire a termite expert to check out the mud tubes on the foundations of your house. Then the kitchen needs a new dishwasher, and the bathrooms need new faucets.

I have been a Jewish communal professional for more than 30 years, most recently from Sarasota, Florida. I remember the day I came home and told my wife and children that we were moving to Arizona, where I would be the chief development officer of Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix. Three …

We are fortunate enough to live in one of the best retirement states around, which makes living and aging in place an important topic for most homeowners. Americans today are more active than ever, and your home needs to be able to adapt to all of your life stages as your age.

Giving to support the community is admirable. Giving to perpetuate the Jewish faith is a mitzvah. 

How did anyone pull off a bar or bat mitzvah before there were apps?

In the world of bar and bat mitzvahs, things are changing. Gone are the days of sheet cakes, fluorescent bulbs and pastel party attire. In their place are desserts straight from the Food Network, hip, flattering lighting and fun, high-fashion-inspired formalwear.

This year’s Chanukah stamp is a paper-cut image of a nine-branched chanukiah placed in the subtle outline of a jug. The background is enlivened by flowing vines and flowers.

Finding the perfect Jewish-themed gift — or eight of them — for Chanukah can be tough. Fortunately, there are several Judaica stores both in the Valley and online that can help you stock up on presents for the Festival of Lights. 

With the tragic prevalence of opioid addiction in the United States, we all need to pay attention to the ways that children’s pain is addressed in both acute and chronic situations. Children feel and express pain differently than adults, both parents and doctors agree. At the same time, pedi…

There are some people who remember when being in school meant rote memorization from dusty textbooks and maybe one half-working computer for everyone to share. Those days are long gone. Now schools are bringing technology and innovative educational programming to students — as is clear from …

The December Dilemma is a reality that many interfaith families live out each holiday season. The big question is how to balance Christmas and Chanukah in a family with a parent of each faith.

At my age, friends think I’m crazy for expanding my house. My contemporaries are downsizing to one-level condos or moving into retirement communities. Meanwhile, I’m adding on to my three-story, 3,700-square-foot home. Instead of mulling over my next mahjong move, I’m busy selecting furnitur…

When decorating a kitchen, a client and I created a small sitting area in her large eating area. We decided to use a chair with an ottoman. To give the area a little “oomph,” we used color to pull it all together. My client fell in love with the wonderful fabric we used to make a pillow for …

Thinking of refinancing your home? As you probably know, real estate and financial markets have been changing rapidly lately. Harold Perkins, president of the Galaxy Lending Group in Arizona, Oregon, Texas and Washington, filled us in on what’s been happening and how that can affect your plans. 

Did you know that Arizona’s school vouchers already drain more than $75 million out of public education into private schools with no accountability? While Arizona is still far behind in supporting the vast majority of students in public school, our state Legislature and governor passed a mas…

Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor recently announced she has been diagnosed with dementia and potentially Alzheimer’s disease. The news has thrown the disease into the spotlight at a time when an estimated 5.7 million Americans of all ages have Alzheimer’s disease and by…

With advances in the treatment of mental health disorders, many individuals, including seniors, are living highly functional, productive lives.

Recently, my daughter called me after the first exam of the semester to report her frustration and defiance. She arrived 10 minutes early to the testing site and had planned to review her notes. The proctor instructed the students to put their notes away in preparation for some guided medita…

November is here. As soon as the election is over, the content of our mailboxes and voicemails will switch from political solicitations to requests for charitable gifts. Before you reach for your wallet, make a year-end giving plan, especially if you want the tax benefits of donating appreci…

The ‘bottled’ gourd

In this country, there has always been a well-worn path to household wealth — and that’s buying the house itself.

Here we are again — my favorite time of year — autumn. The sameness of the summer heat is relieved by cool mornings and evenings, which is a most welcome change. Seasonal changes provide us with decorating themes that give us the opportunity to be creative.

If the outside of your house is looking shabby, you may be thinking about having it repainted. But like most homeowners, you’re probably wondering about what paint to use.

To Stacy Goldate, her 94-year-old “Mom Mom” was just another old lady — albeit one she loved — who spent her days in the South Florida retirement community of Wynmoor Village, playing the piano, frequenting diners and playing cards with her 98-year-old sister, Rose Weber.

As we begin the new year in earnest now, many of us may be looking to change certain aspects of our lives.

Every Tuesday morning, a group of 20 to 30 men and women gather at the East Valley JCC in Chandler for Terrific Tuesdays, an educational, cultural and social program for adults ages 55-plus.