Advice Archives

Adoption

Fostering Journey Final Chapter: Celebrating Adopting Our Son

After eight months in our home, I am thrilled to share that this past week, we adopted our sweet boy into our family. The adoption...

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Our Foster Parenting Journey: Summer Reflections

We’re wrapping up our first summer as a foster family, and our permanent placement (a 7-month-old baby boy) has been experiencing the daily outpourings of...

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Five Months into Our Fostering Journey: Eucatastrophe

A friend of ours came for dinner Easter weekend. He asked me, pointedly: “What have you learned – what has God shown you – this...

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Finding Joy in the Unexpected: Celebrating Foster Motherhood in Southwest Florida

We’ve had our little one for four months now, and although there are no guarantees and I can’t share details, the placement feels long-term. We...

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The Learning and Chaos as the Fostering Journey Continues

This is the latest article I've written about our journey as a foster family. It’s been almost three months since we took our first permanent...

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Fielding Questions as a Foster Parent

This is the latest installment of my fostering journey. Previously I shared about the circumstances surrounding the placement of a newborn baby in our home....

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Education

Lee County School Arts Programs Are Thriving

Lee County school arts programs give students opportunities to explore visual arts, music, theater, and dance from middle school through graduation. Across the School District...

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Autism Collier Charter School Gives SWFL Students a Place to Thrive

Autism Collier Charter School in Naples, which opened in Naples in 2025, gives children with autism a place to learn, build confidence, and be part...

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Performing Arts Programs for Kids in Southwest Florida: Serious Training Close to Home

Performing arts programs for kids in Southwest Florida can offer much more than a weekly hobby. Young actors, singers, dancers, and theater technicians in Collier...

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Florida School Bus Laws: What Collier and Lee County Drivers Need to Know

Florida school bus laws require drivers to stop when a school bus displays flashing red lights and an extended stop arm, with limited exceptions on...

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Simple Yet Fun School-Day Meals to Feed Your Kids with Minimal Chaos

(Feature Impact) When it comes to planning lunches and dinners on busy school days, simplicity is the name of the game. Parents who are already...

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How to Support Your Child’s Mental Health This School Year

As school bells begin to ring again across Southwest Florida, many children are excited about meeting new teachers, choosing their first-day outfits, making new friends,...

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Financial

$20,000 Scholarship Applications Now Open for Collier County Seniors

Attention High School Seniors: The 2026 Schulze College Scholarship Application Is Now Open. Apply Today! The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation is once again awarding up...

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Local Scholarships Often Go Unclaimed in Collier and Lee Counties

Bonita Shores offers three $500 college scholarships for high school seniors in that community, but in 2025 nobody applied. Longshore Lakes in North Naples offers...

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Domestic Violence Resources in Southwest Florida

October marks National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time when communities unite to support survivors, educate families, and work toward ending intimate partner violence. For families...

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Tips for Affordable Family Fun and Entertainment in SWFL

A typical family with parents and their two kids are ready for a typical family outing. The movies, bowling, and mini golf have been long...

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Many SWFL Parents Now Need Second Jobs to Pay the Bills

Despite working full-time jobs, Southwest Florida moms struggle to make ends meet due to rising costs. From social workers to stay-at-home moms, many are turning to side hustles and starting small businesses to survive.

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A three-step guide to uncover what college REALLY costs

Here are three things you can do to learn which colleges may fit into your family’s budget.

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Grandparents

A Grandparent’s Guide to Supporting Neurodiverse Grandchildren with Love and Patience

The role of grandparents in families with children with special needs cannot be underestimated. Here is a guide for how to support neurodiverse grandchildren.

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Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Amidst Challenges and Love

Explore the heartwarming journey of Celeste Lynch, one of millions of grandparents in the US raising their grandchildren. Discover the love, challenges, and resilience in their unique story.

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Destination: “Me” Trip with Grandparents

Grandparents get special bonding time when they take their grandchildren alone on vacation.

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Collier Grandparents Making Huge Difference at Parkside Elementary

Supporting the efforts of the staff are Parkside’s volunteers. One of the most significant efforts at the school recently has been the recruitment of more volunteers, principally retirees.

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Memories of My Grandparents

Grandparents are the windows to our past and, through their experiences, the keys to our future if we choose to grab them.

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Health

Signs of Type 1 Diabetes in Kids: What SWFL Parents Should Know

Recognizing signs of Type 1 diabetes in kids can help parents know when to seek medical care. Increased thirst, frequent trips to the bathroom, unexplained...

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How to Support Your Child’s Mental Health This School Year

As school bells begin to ring again across Southwest Florida, many children are excited about meeting new teachers, choosing their first-day outfits, making new friends,...

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Healthy Back-to-School Meals for Southwest Florida Families

Healthy back-to-school meals for Southwest Florida families do not need to be expensive or time-consuming. A free UF/IFAS webinar on Aug. 6 will offer practical...

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Why Summer Is Best for Your Child’s Annual Physical

A child's annual physical is one of the simplest ways to prepare for a healthy school year. Summer gives families in Collier and Lee Counties...

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Student EKG Screenings in Florida: What SWFL Parents Need to Know

Student EKG screenings in Florida are becoming an important part of high school sports safety. Beginning July 1, 2026, under the Second Chance Act, incoming...

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Water Safety for Kids in Collier and Lee Counties

Water safety for kids in Collier and Lee Counties starts with layers of protection. Drowning is silent, fast, and preventable. In Florida, drowning is the...

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Parenting

How to Build a Strong Parent-Teacher Relationship

Every parent wants the same thing: a school year where their child feels good, enjoys learning, and doesn’t fight them every single morning. While a...

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How Parental Struggles Shape A Child’s Sense Of Security

A ten-year-old asks the same question every night before bed: “Is everything okay?” Nothing dramatic happened that day. Yet the child keeps checking, as if...

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School Threat Assessment: What Southwest Florida Parents Should Know

A school threat assessment can begin when a student makes a violent gesture, writes an alarming message, or searches for content related to weapons, violence,...

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Online Safety Forum for Parents in Naples Helps Families Protect Children

The Online Safety Forum for Parents hosted by Collier County Public Schools will help families understand online risks facing children today. The forum takes place...

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Hot Car Death Prevention in Collier and Lee Counties: Park. Look. Lock.

Hot car death prevention in Collier and Lee Counties starts with one simple habit: Park. Look. Lock. On an 80-degree day, the temperature inside a...

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How To Connect With Your Teen When They Pull Away

If you’re trying to connect with your Collier and Lee County teen and it suddenly feels harder, you’re not imagining it. The child who once...

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Special Needs

Autism Collier Charter School Gives SWFL Students a Place to Thrive

Autism Collier Charter School in Naples, which opened in Naples in 2025, gives children with autism a place to learn, build confidence, and be part...

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How Music Therapy Helps Children with ADHD in Collier and Lee Counties

ADHD doesn’t arrive with instructions. It shows up in missed cues, spiraling mornings, unfinished sentences — and a parent’s mind searching for traction. A child...

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How Compass Hotel Naples Is Creating a More Inclusive Stay for Families

An inclusive hotel stay for autism families can feel like a small miracle. When a hotel says its staff is trained to support guests with...

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Support for Sensory-Friendly Experiences for Kids in SWFL

Sensory-friendly experiences in Naples are growing, thanks to an expanded partnership between Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples and Lee Health’s Golisano Children’s Hospital. Together, they...

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What an Autism-Friendly Dentist and Certified Autism Center Means for Kids in Collier and Lee Counties

Choosing an autism-friendly dentist in Collier and Lee Counties can transform a stressful appointment into a calmer, more predictable experience for your child. For autistic...

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Developing Executive Functioning Skills in Teens with Additional Needs: How Summer Routines Build Growth and Independence

Supporting Healthy Development During a Critical Transition Adolescence is a pivotal time when teens begin to seek independence, even as the brain—particularly areas governing impulse...

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