What's stinkier than a poopy diaper, bigger than a pile of laundry, deeper than a sink full of dirty dishes? It's the Illinois budget mess and it's growing by the minute. In fact, the fiscal woes we're facing here in the Land of Lincoln are said to be among the...

Embracing his daughters, walking hand-in-hand to a Halloween party, attending parent-teacher conferences, soccer games and dance recitals -- these are the images of President Barack Obama that have most captured my heart and imagination. I confess, this mom has a sentimental side. But, the real reason these pictures resonate so...

The moment my now 10-year-old daughter started kindergarten, I knew that school schedules were a missing piece of the work/family puzzle. From the assemblies at 11:00 a.m. that only a handful of parents can attend to the countless days when children are off or released early from school, sometimes it's...