What you think does matter

  Helping Your Child Love Books: 6 Things to Avoid Being a parent is a big job. You want your child to succeed, and one of the best ways to do that is to help them become a great reader. Reading helps with school, but it also opens up new worlds. However, sometimes the things we do to help can actually backfire. I did some research using expert sources to find out what might be slowing kids down. It turns out that even with the best intentions, we can accidentally make reading feel like a struggle. Here are the six biggest things parents do that can hinder a child’s reading—and how you can fix them! 1. Making Reading Feel Like a Chore We’ve all been there: "No video games until you read for 20 minutes!" It seems like a good deal, right? But experts say that when we use reading as a "requirement" for fun stuff, kids start to think of reading as "work." If reading is a chore, they won't want to do it for fun. Instead of making it a rule, try making it a ...

FREE QR Code from Google For years, creating a simple QR code felt like it should be easy—but somehow never was. Every time I needed one, I ended up on a third-party website that promised “free” QR codes, only to discover the catch later. Some made me pay to download a high-resolution image. Others worked for a while and then suddenly paused my code unless I upgraded to a monthly plan. A few even started showing ads or redirect screens before sending people to the link I actually wanted them to see. It was frustrating, especially when all I wanted was a clean, reliable QR code that sent readers straight where they needed to go. That’s why discovering how easy it is to create a QR code with Google felt like such a relief. Look how clean and beautiful it looks: Google offers a completely free, no-strings-attached way to generate QR codes, and it takes less than a minute. There are no subscriptions, no expiration dates, no surprise ads, and no “upgrade to unlock” messages. The QR code si...

What happens when a child loses more than she can explain—and finds connection in the most unexpected place? The Missing Moo is the first book in the Secrets of Whisper Pine series, a middle school mystery that gently explores loss , belonging , and inclusion , wrapped inside a suspenseful story that keeps young readers turning pages late into the night. Set in the shadowy woods of Whisper Pine, this story follows a girl struggling to find her footing after everything familiar has changed. When a cow mysteriously disappears, it sparks more than just a search—it opens the door to hidden truths, uneasy secrets, and a mystery that refuses to stay buried. Though the mood is dark and atmospheric, the heart of the story is warm and meaningful. Children who feel out of place, unheard, or unsure of where they belong will recognize themselves here. Parents will appreciate how the book handles difficult emotions with care, showing how connection —to people, to animals, to place—can help heal...