Do you know any new parents? Or maybe you're new parents yourself? The power of a hot meal can mean everything! I'm sure there are plenty of people that know what I mean.

Danielle Rivenbark

June 3, 2016

Self-Awareness

Mission Possible! Believing in Your Organization

Danielle Rivenbark

June 3, 2016

Self-Awareness

What keeps your passion at your job?

Danielle Rivenbark

May 30, 2016

Funny Story

He Said What During Labor!?!?!

Danielle Rivenbark

May 30, 2016

Funny Story

Another epic gem from my dear husband, who has a tendency to put his foot in his mouth, but I wouldn't have it any other way!

Danielle Rivenbark

May 24, 2016

Professional Organization

Online Auction! Bid often on hotel stays, handmade items, and other decor!

Danielle Rivenbark

May 24, 2016

Professional Organization

Help support NC Society of Government Meeting Professionals and win great prizes!

Danielle Rivenbark

May 23, 2016

Family

Big Brother Cares

Danielle Rivenbark

May 23, 2016

Family

You have to give your kids credit for the loving and caring things they do.

Danielle Rivenbark

May 16, 2016

Poll

iKidUNot Poll: Parenting is...

Danielle Rivenbark

May 16, 2016

Poll

It's time for you to weigh in!

Danielle Rivenbark

May 13, 2016

Event Humor

Sh*t Meeting Planners Say

Danielle Rivenbark

May 13, 2016

Event Humor

Excuse the title of the post, but this is a hysterical parody of what meeting planners say... A LOT! Enjoy!

Danielle Rivenbark

May 9, 2016

Baby Preparation

Our Plan to Ensure Sanity After Birth

Danielle Rivenbark

May 9, 2016

Baby Preparation

What I'm going to do differently after birth this time.

Danielle Rivenbark

May 6, 2016

Professional Organization

Donations Needed!

Danielle Rivenbark

May 6, 2016

Professional Organization

I need your help! Do you have a knack for crafting? baking? or want to donate tickets to a local sporting event? NC SGMP is accepting donations for its silent auction.

Danielle Rivenbark

May 2, 2016

Family

Saying Goodbye To My Only Child

Danielle Rivenbark

May 2, 2016

Family

My only child is about to have his world rocked... or maybe it's me that is about to face that reality.

Danielle Rivenbark

April 29, 2016

Negotiating

5 Negotiating Styles for the Win!

Danielle Rivenbark

April 29, 2016

Negotiating

Negotiating can be scary, but understanding when to utilize a certain style can help you along the way.

Danielle Rivenbark

April 25, 2016

Family, Funny Story

He Said What to the Doctor?!?!?! Part 2

Danielle Rivenbark

April 25, 2016

Family, Funny Story

Part 2 for a recurring series of funny things my husband says. Enjoy!

BLOG Archive

Recent Posts

Featured

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September 3, 2026

The Greatest Show Yet: Baby Number Seven

September 3, 2026

When you are announcing your seventh baby, you know there will be opinions.

Some people will be thrilled. Some will be surprised. Some will immediately start doing math that no one asked them to do—children, bedrooms, car seats, grocery bills and years spent changing diapers.

But when the negativity comes from someone close to you, it lands differently.

September 3, 2026

August 24, 2026

How to Prepare Your Home for Life After Baby with Simple Changes

August 24, 2026

For new parents coming home with a newborn, postpartum home preparation can feel impossible when recovery hurts, sleep is scarce, and everything suddenly has safety stakes. The hardest postpartum challenges often show up in ordinary moments: reaching for supplies while holding a baby, keeping up with basic meals and laundry, and staying alert about home safety for newborns on the most exhausted days. A supportive postpartum recovery environment doesn’t need perfection, it needs to reduce friction and protect attention. The goal is a home that quietly helps new parents get through each day.

August 24, 2026

August 18, 2026

Create Lasting Family Bonds with Fun, Skill-Building Home Projects

August 18, 2026

For busy parents juggling work and school schedules, and for caregivers supporting kids and grandparents under one roof, home upkeep can feel like a never-ending to-do list. The challenge is that chores often split the household into “helpers” and “hindrances,” leaving little room for shared wins. Family-friendly home improvement reframes routine tasks as skill-building activities that welcome different ages and abilities. With the right mindset, even beginner DIY projects can become intergenerational projects that create real home bonding experiences.

August 18, 2026

August 4, 2026

What Happens When Mom Leaves for Work?

August 4, 2026

Every month, I pack a suitcase, kiss six kids goodbye, and head to a conference. Sometimes it’s just a day trip, sometimes a night or two, and at least twice a year it’s for an entire week.

August 4, 2026

August 3, 2026

How to Recognize and Manage Your Anxiety for Your Child’s Well-Being

August 3, 2026

Busy parents juggling work, caregiving, and nonstop decision-making often carry parenting stress that feels private, manageable, and “just part of life.” The hard part is that parental anxiety can quietly spill into tone, routines, and reactions, and that anxiety impact on kids can shift children’s well-being even when no one means for it to. Over time, these patterns can influence family mental health and the emotional health of children in ways that look like moodiness, clinginess, or sudden shutdowns. Spotting worry early helps protect children’s well-being.

August 3, 2026

July 24, 2026

How to Start a Family-Friendly Home Business Without Selling Products

July 24, 2026

Stay-at-home parents drawn to home-based entrepreneurship often want income that doesn’t depend on shipping boxes, managing inventory, or being “on” for customers all day. The real tension is that non-ecommerce small businesses can offer flexibility, but they also blur boundaries fast, family needs don’t pause for client work, and client work doesn’t automatically fit nap schedules. Many parents also feel pressure to pick a “perfect” idea before starting, even when time and energy change week to week. With the right expectations, it’s possible to choose family-friendly business ideas that protect work-life balance from the beginning.

July 24, 2026

May 7, 2026

How Busy Parents Can Manage Stress with Simple Daily Habits

May 7, 2026

Busy parents managing stress often feel pulled in every direction: work-family challenges that don’t pause, childcare stressors that change by the hour, and nonstop decision-making that leaves no quiet space to reset. The core tension is that the pressure can feel constant while the source stays blurry, so every new problem lands like “one more thing.” Before anything can get better, it helps to notice the specific sources of parental stress that show up most often and hit the hardest. Identifying stress triggers gives parents a clear starting point for relief.

May 7, 2026

April 26, 2026

Hanging On by Nuggets and Prayers

April 26, 2026

This season feels like a sprint… that somehow turned into a marathon.

Like—who asked each kid if they wanted to play sports this season? And who is the crazy person that said yes?

Oh wait… me. That was me.

I’m the problem.

April 26, 2026

March 17, 2026

Lowering the Bar Without Lowering Your Values

March 17, 2026

There’s a moment in parenting—usually somewhere between your third child and realizing you’ve reheated your coffee four times—when you start to question everything you thought “doing it right” looked like.

March 17, 2026

March 16, 2026

How Parents Can Help Kids Build Leadership Skills From Early On

March 16, 2026

Busy parents juggling work, school routines, and family life often want to raise confident kids, but it can be hard to know what leadership skills development looks like in real time. Early childhood learning is a powerful window because children are constantly practicing how to speak up, handle feelings, and make choices with others. Without support, many kids learn to stay quiet, wait to be told what to do, or fear getting things wrong, which can dim developing child leadership qualities. With steady, approachable parenting strategies, parents can nurture communication and confidence in ways that feel natural at home.

March 16, 2026