Stephanie Jankowski's Blog

I thought buying a house would feel like crossing some invisible finish line into adulthood, as if the keys would come with instant confidence and a matching set of dishes. HA! Realistically, it has been more like standing in the bathroom, plunger in hand, or my husband yelling, “Is that the one?” as he troubleshoots ... » Learn More about Stuff No One Tells You Before Becoming a Homeowner: AKA Help…

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As a mom, it is perfectly natural to feel stressed, tense. At least that’s what The Experts say. After all, we have a lot of responsibility, it’s very important work raising kids, blahblahblah. Listen, I need everyone to quit celebrating moms for being “so strong” and for our “multi-tasking skills.” We wouldn’t have to be ... » Learn More about Six and a Half Tips For Tense Moms

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Raising teenagers is wild. They want their independence and privacy until they need a snack. They don’t want mom’s help until they can’t find their other shoe. It’s this constant push and pull of do-all-the-things-for-me and oh-my-god-i-know-lay-off.  As a parent, my goal is to make sure my children grow into self-sufficient, happy, healthy adults. To ... » Learn More about Prepping Teens for the World

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43,829 minutes, or a month. That’s how long I’ve been a member of the Dead Mom Club. Sorry, probably should’ve prefaced that with a trigger warning, but the gut-punch is kind of the point. “Something bad is happening,” the oh-so articulate hospitalist said through the phone before asking about “end of life decisions.” Wait, what? ... » Learn More about Forty Three Thousand Eight Hundred Twenty Nine Minutes

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I don’t know about you, but when summer hits, I’m not trying to add things to my to-do list. In fact, I’ll blatantly ignore that list just to sit and bask in the sun. Listen, western Pennsylvania winters aren’t kind, okay? To guarantee yourself more quality summer time outside, check off these these repairs, renovations, ... » Learn More about Get Summer Ready with These Home Improvements

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Source All children should grow up with a strong set of math skills. Unfortunately, math often ends up being one of their least favorite subjects in schools. When kids aren’t interested in something and they find it too challenging, they mentally check out. It can be very difficult to encourage kids to develop their math ... » Learn More about 5 Creative Ways to Teach Math to Little Kids

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Legacy isn’t just about money or property. It’s about the stories we tell, the values we live by, and the way our family history shapes our future. And as some actively work to erase the legacy of others, it’s more important than ever to pass down the truthful histories of our families. And for kids, ... » Learn More about Teaching Kids About Legacy: Lessons from Family Heirlooms and Keepsakes

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Sometimes I feel like having people over. Sometimes I’ll even feel like cooking for them. But then I reconsider because my personality is my superpower; not my cooking. BUT. I have successfully hosted more than my children around our table and no one has cried. Here are my hosting tips for keeping things simple and ... » Learn More about For My Fellow Hot Mess Hostesses…

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If you’re an old-head like me and get excited about new appliances, this post is for you! Also, sometimes I write things for money. This is one of those things. Proper care and maintenance of home appliances extend their lifespan. It can also improve their efficiency and save lots of money on repairs and replacement.  ... » Learn More about Appliance Love: Proper Care & Maintenance

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Oh, hi! We haven’t chatted in a while. Like you, I’ve been busy with life. Three growing kids and my own adulting are topics I’d love to cover more often, but I’ve been spending a lot of time over at my new freelancing gig, Highlights Early Learning blog. I am stupid excited to have the ... » Learn More about Understanding Pre-k Education: The Four Core Learning Styles

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