Reading Nora Bardin's "Murder at Maplewood Inn", I was reminded at how many "side quests" parents have to deal with when they are trying to figure out this thing called life. Sometimes there is something that is easy to fix, and sometimes it can be murder. Here is a look at Nora's book and the parallels parents can appreciate when life gives them a curveball.

Life is tough for our kids and for us parents. It’s not always easy to be brave when there is trouble or danger ahead of us. again, we try to work with our children and teach them what to do when something comes up. In the end, one of the best things we can do is to teach our children to be brave."Here at the Castle" by Anthony Luke Hyslop is squarely entrenched in religion, specifically Christianity. However, there are plenty of lessons everyone, not just Christians can learn from this book. Parents of small children have their days and hands full taking care of their little ones. There are meals to prepare and errands to be run. You can’t turn your back to the little ones. Who knows what they’ll get into. This is why you make sure they are holding your hand when you’re walking together, look both ways when crossing the street. When you are with your children, you do whatever you can to make sure they are safe and secure. When it’s time for them to leave you for the day or even longer, that’s when the lessons you instilled within them will take hold.

My family has a dog. This isn't the first time Wife and I have owned a dog. Our first time with a four-legged friend gave us more than our share of adventures and excitement, and our porch barely survived those exciting times. Reading a potty-training article reminded me of those days of porches pee, and poop.

There's a lot more to life than just writing out a will and waiting for it to kick in. There are a lot of moving parts, including changes in relationships and family dynamics. Patrick Herring is a lawyer who deals with these important documents on a daily basis. He wants to help you make things easier for yourself and your family.

Toothbrush Toys has a great gadget to help make sure your children are spending adequate time caring for their teeth. Daniel Tiger can (sort of) visit your house when it's time for brushing teeth. The Toothbrush Toys Timer can help the time go by fast when it's time for personal hygiene. We tried it at my house, and there are other options available if Daniel Tiger isn't your favorite.

It’s not always easy keeping an eye on our children. Sometimes, our children will need to keep an eye on us. They need something, a ride a snack, or help with homework. When that happens, they will be around looking for us. Nico and Maddie are looking for Nico’s parents. We all hope they’re alright. A little adventure is fun, but an adventure spanning across galaxies can be a little more than what our heroes bargained for.

I was live today! Here are some fun events happening for families if you live on the South Shore.

Life is full of adventures, whether we want it to be or not. Some adventures can be fun, like meeting new friends and finding out about their interests.

Claire Kroft has written "Adventures of German Shepherd and Egret". It is a story about a German shepherd who meets Adam the Egret. Together they meet animals who are doing what they can to help the world. The story shows that adventures can happen at any time and you don't need to perform a large task to help the planet.

"Inscribed" by Celia Bray tells you what you need to know about your body and what it is trying to tell you. The book goes beyond the general meanings of anxiety and helps you tune in to the messages and how you can live a better life by decoding those messages.

Routines bore us, but rituals can ground us. Everyone has rituals that can help them through their day. Melanie Lane Durham's book, "Every Day Magic" helps Edie find the magic and rituals in her everyday life.