Thanks to First Security Bank for sponsoring our blog!
As parents, educators, and community members, we all understand the unique challenges that teenagers face today. From the pressures of academics and social media to concerns about mental health and sa...
Students Learn About Agriculture with Pumpkin Patch
The Gallatin Valley has gotten a lot more colorful with the opening of Pinspiration Bozeman, a DIY craft studio inspired by the wildly popular social media platform Pinterest.
The Tooth Fairy's Stars tells the story of a young girl named Fallan who does not want to give the Tooth Fairy her very first wiggly tooth—not even for a shiny gold coin under her pillow.
Every kid is unique. When you have children of your own, each one’s individuality becomes illuminated like a marquis board on the Vegas strip. In my case, I’ve got The Trailblazer, The Timorous and Th...
Editor's Voice - March 2023 Summer Camps
“Welcome to the support group for people named Karen.”Believe it or not, there are some people out there who are named Karen. That’s their actual name. People who must walk through their days knowin...
Yellowstone National Park celebrates 150th Anniversary
Don’t get caught up in the hustle this year and make the classic mistake of spraying for weeds in the spring.
Employer-Sponsored Childcare: The Story Behind XY Learning Center
Family Life on the Ranch: This column features Montana Farm Bureau farm moms, occasionally farm dads and, in this issue, a ranch grandmother.
Family Life on the Ranch
As I sit here, glass of wine on the table, kids in bed and my husband folding laundry, I can’t stop thinking about what a year it’s been.
Trips, Tricks & Shortcuts in the Kitchen
Graduation is not just for high school grads!
Turn Today's Tax Refund into Tomorrow's College Education
Tips, Tricks & Shortcuts in the Kitchen
Across Montana, 4-H camps offer leadership and learning for children ages 8 to 13. The Montana 4-H program, run by the Montana State University Extension, is the largest youth development program in t...
When I was a kid, my favorite school days were those spent on field trips, but probably not for the reasons that you might think. I loved field trip days because that meant my lunch would be a Lunchab...
Expecting a baby doesn’t slow down most ranch women, and Jesse Thompson is no exception. The 30-year-old admits that although ranch gals can still work pretty steadily through pregnancy, it can be dif...
Achieve Montana is a Section 529 qualified tuition program (529 plan) and is a key part of any family’s efforts to support their children’s future dreams and goals.
Gallatin Valley Farm to School and Montana Parent magazine are excited to roll out a new monthly feature: Zoey’s Recipes for Success.
Rural Montana is nothing new to Anna Shearer who was raised in Divide, a tiny town in southwestern Montana where she attended a two-room schoolhouse. Although her family wasn’t directly involved in ag...
Turn the disruptions of this school year into an opportunity to take your child on an educational Central Montana Field Trip! The region is filled with attractions inspired by history, culture, arts a...
Growing up on a ranch where both her grandma and her aunt played an integral role, Kari Cosgriff had amazing female role models.
Everybody is going to have to get really creative this year when it comes to celebrating holiday traditions. Nearly all of us will need to revise plans and adjust to different types of gatherings and...
Some parents may be daunted by their kids transitioning into the teen years, but for many ranch families, it’s just business as usual. Jessica and Scott Toavs, who ranch near Wolf Point, have three ch...
Growing up on a ranch, Karli Johnson knew early on that ranch life was special to her. When she met her future husband, Ben, at Montana State University, the two realized they had a lot in common.
When I think of time as a tool instead of something I can't control, I instantly feel empowered.
Normally I start doing the back-to-school dance around this time of year. Summer is great and, don't get me wrong, I adore having my kids around more, but COME ON PEOPLE!
Mental illness affects a huge number of people, including children and teenagers. According to Polaris Teen Center, “Approximately one in five teens (ages 12 to 18) suffers from at least one mental he...
Summer in Montana is beautiful and vibrant. It is a time for adventure and exploration, and a time to enjoy the outdoors.
Michelle Robertson never dreamed she would be living on a farm in northern Montana, raising two kids. However, life had other plans.
Although Nikki Hall Bandel grew up just south of Montana’s Golden Triangle, she didn’t know much about farming until she married into the Bandel family.
As families across Montana strive to find balance in this challenging time, anything that can help simplify their lives will be welcome.
For the first time in six years I spent Mother’s Day alone. I needed this. For the past seven weeks I have slowly been losing my balance.
"Strong primary health care systems remain the best way to fight COVID-19"
Family Life on the Ranch.
My friend’s 11-year-old daughter was struggling with the idea of social distancing...
The Gallatin History Museum is creating a Community Memoir for the people of Gallatin County and Southwest Montana as they endure through the Corvid-19 virus. sponsored by Gallatin History Museu...
It can feel overwhelming and you might be thinking that saving for your child’s future education is something you can put aside for now. sponsored by Achieve Montana
Know an animal lover? Maybe she wants to raise cockroaches; perhaps he wants a pet skunk. sponsored by Animal Tracks
Walking into Coquí Mountain Coffee on East Main Street feels like stepping out of Bozeman and into the tropics.sponsored by Coquí Mountain Coffee
Ranch Dad Shares Joys of Raising Rural Kids. sponsored by Montana Farm Bureau
They've upgraded exhibits, expanded the floor plan and added additional programming!sponsored by Montana Science Center
photo by Ashley Dawn Photography I recently came across a letter I wrote to myself when I was pregnant with myfirst child. I was dreaming about what she would look like and who she wouldbecome. It...
December. The Christmas carols say it’s the most wonderful time of the year. Thecalendar says it’s the last 31 days of the year. The IRS says it’s the end ofthe tax year. As a parent, you probably s...
CELEBRATING 100 ISSUES... AND LOOKING FORWARD TO 100 MORE!A very special thank you to our readers, advertisers, writers, photographers,stylists, models, distributors, past and present employees, Cen...
IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT THIS IS THE FAMILY ADVENTURE ISSUE, IT SEEMED ONLYAPPROPRIATE TO SHARE SOME OF OUR STAFF FAVORITE STAYCATIONS WITH OUR READERS.HAPPY TRAVELS ~ LEIGH ~JESSICA GEARY-CECOTTI...
:: WRITTEN BY SARA SILVA:: Free candy, face painting and dressing-up make Halloween an exciting day forlittle ones, but there is a flip side to all the excitement. Costumes can befrightening for s...
:: WRITTEN BY JESSICA GEARY-CECOTTI ::While Halloween can be delightful in so many ways, it can also be seriouslyscary... especially for parents with kids who have food allergies.As the parent of...
FAMILY ADVENTURING :photo Inspire Photo ArtDuring the first few weeks of school I have already managed to send my apologiesfor not being able to make the Parent Open House on Wednesday night, only...
September is here and kids are officially back in school. As you pack lunchesand sign permission slips to help your child’s current education, why not take afew minutes to plan for their future educ...
:: WRITTEN BY JESSICA GEARY-CECOTTI ::Let me just start by saying that everything you’re about to read applies as muchto me as any of you. My oldest is going in to the first grade, so technicallyt...
:: WRITTEN AND PHOTOS BY JENN ADAMS ::As the parent of a first grader and a coach for Bozeman Youth Cycling, I canhonestly say that biking on trails and paths with kids can be fun, rewarding andat...
:: WRITTEN BY CARLY WYNN ::HOW TO TRAVEL WHEN THE ONLY SAFE FOOD IS THE FOOD YOU PREPARE YOURSELF.Let’s cut right to the chase- if your child has severe food allergies, travelposes difficulties. E...
:: WRITTEN BY JESSICA GEARY-CECOTTI ::While technically this is not an actual Konmari category, I think Montanans knowexactly where I’m going with this. It was literally snowing when I wrote this......
:: WRITTEN BY RHIANNA WEAVER ::I remember the first time I got my period; I was petrified. Although I knew whatwas happening because I had talked with my mom about it beforehand and hadparticipate...
:: EDITORIAL BY LEIGH RIPLEY ::My oldest is a full-blown teenager.She’s driving. She’s managing her own school, athletic and social affairs. She’sdoing it – growing up and learning to lead her own...
:: WRITTEN BY JESSICA GEARY-CECOTTI ::Hello to all my Tidions (tidying minions). I hope your decluttering is going aswell as could be expected while you still have kids living in your house. Trustm...
:: WRITTEN BY PATTI ALBRECHT ::As parents, we all have a worry meter that can go from mild to craaa-zy at warpspeed. One worry that often lurks in the back of our minds is: What if my childis bulli...
:: EDITORIAL AND PHOTOS BY LEIGH RIPLEY ::One of my daughter’s friends was at our house recently, lamenting that herparents won’t buy her a car (oh, to be Generation Z) and she emphatically statedt...
:: WRITTEN BY JESSICA GEARY-CECOTTI ::I want to start by giving you all a quick update on my clothing categorysituation (read my previous blog, Adventures in Tidyinghood: Kid’s Clothing , ifyou hav...
Choosing the right rug for your child’s bedroom can sometimes seem verydifficult, what with the startling array of choices, and you may feel a littlebewildered. However, don’t be too confused, as th...
:: EDITORIAL AND PHOTOS BY LEIGH RIPLEY ::For the past year I have been helping out a friend by watching her daughteroccasionally. Dot will be 2 in March, and watching her grow and blossom into the...
:: WRITTEN BY JESSICA GEARY-CECOTTI ::I’m sure by now if you haven’t read Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic ofTidying Upor seen her Netflix series Tidying Up, you’ve at least heard of themin pa...
:: WRITTEN BY RHIANNA WEAVER ::Hello mommas and happy New Year! In celebration of the current issue of MontanaParent, I wanted to show you a few easy acupressure points with techniques thatyou or y...
:: WRITTEN BY ELEONORE SNOW ::Purge. Rhymes with verge. As in: woman on the ___. This is what I was last fallwhen my man and I decided to shack up together and I had to make room for awhole other m...
:: WRITTEN BY JESSICA GEARY-CECOTTI ::If you feel anything like I do, you're probably ready to be done with all theholiday treats and sweets for awhile. The kids are back in school and we're backt...
::WRITTEN BY LEIGH RIPLEY::OK, ALL YOU FIRST TIME PARENTS; I’M GOING TO GIVE IT TO YOU STRAIGHT.Mistakes are going to happen. Often. You might prop your infant up for theperfect photo, only to have...
:: WRITTEN BY LEIGH RIPLEY ::When I was growing up, winter fun was more like boot camp than days of leisureand play.My stepdad (really just a dad, as he has been there for my sister and me sincew...
:: WRITTEN BY RHIANNA WEAVER ::The holiday season is upon us! This is the one time a year where we give thanks,and have gratitude for all the amazing things we are blessed with. Growing up,my fami...
:: WRITTEN BY AMY HORNER ::There she stood in her small Ohio farm kitchen... I can see her now, as shealways was, wearing her special Christmas apron, hands dusted with flour andwrinkled from the a...
:: WRITTEN BY ELEONORE SNOW ::The other day, this happened: I was standing in line at Bozeman’s most fabulousgift store, Heyday, with a beautiful boxed tea sampler from some fancy tea brandcalled T...
:: WRITTEN BY ELEONORE SNOW ::We’ve got just one week until the holiday season kicks off in earnest withThanksgiving and cocktails and cheese and stuffing and gravy and pie and wineand all the good...
:: WRITTEN BY JULIE KLEINE::MyVyllage is a new business concept developed through a shared vision ofrevolutionizing early childhood education into a connected supportive community.Cofounders Erica...
:: WRITTEN BY LEIGH RIPLEY :: My father died when I was 9. Just 10 days after mybirthday. I remember hearing the news. I remember the funeral and all of theadults broken, crying. But I remember the...
:: WRITTEN BY ELEONORE SNOW ::If one were to apply Malcolm Gladwell's 10,000 hours-rule to Halloween and me,then I'm pretty sure I'm a master (or would it be mistress? —OK, maybe we don'tgo there)...
:: WRITTEN BY RHIANNA WEAVER ::I have been thinking a lot about rituals lately, mostly how I don’t have any,especially after having my daughter. I am not talking about the cult creepyrituals either...
:: WRITTEN BY ELEONORE SNOW ::We drove. And drove and drove and drove. Almost 1,000 miles. Down through Idahoand into Nevada, through Jackpot and Elko and spent the night in Winnemucca.With Bozeman...
ISSUES... AND SOLUTIONS :: WRITTEN BY LEIGH RIPLEY ::Parenting today is a world away from what our parents experienced. Sure, theynever knew exactly where their kids were because most kids played ou...
WRITTEN BY AVA & ELEONORE SNOW | ABOVE PHOTO: PAM OMOHUNDRODear Mama,I remember riding in the car with you, just 4-years-old, as you explained thatsomeday you wouldn’t get to come to school with m...
At Once Upon A Child® we offer parents a fun and convenient way to buy and sellgently used kids’ stuff, making saving money on children's clothes, toys, babyfurniture and equipment a reality every d...
| WRITTEN BY LEIGH RIPLEY |Although summer is not my favorite season (I don’t do hot), I am looking forwardto hanging up the backpacks for a few months, reducing sports and activityschedules, maybe...
Written by Tawnya Healy Glass recycling is a hot topic in this area and the question, “Why don’t werecycle glass?” seems to be on repeat. If you have ever been around a group ofpeople when this su...
APRIL 28, 2018When Tova Reddick-Starkel lost her 16-year old cousin, Brayden, to suicide morethan two years ago, she and her family reeled from the unimaginable grief. Yet,as clarity returned follo...
A MONTANA PARENT PUBLICATION MADE WIDELY AVAILABLE TO FAMILIES VISITINGSOUTHWEST MONTANA AND YELLOWSTONE,Memorial Day through Labor Day (May - Sept 2018) According to the Institute for Tourism and...
Now that the Montana ParentMarch issue is off to press, I’m thinking back to arecent adventure to West Yellowstone with my family. It was a blast! I hadn’tstayed in West before during the winter, an...
By Jennifer Roberts100,000. This is how many times someone has offered me parenting advice oropinions over the last 25 years. From pregnancy to young adulthood, it doesn’tstop. Much of it has been...
WRITTEN BY: Sarah WilsonI am writing to share my story of surviving postpartum anxiety and depressionfocusing on the lessons I learned in the valleys. My journey to motherhood wasnot a direct path...
WRITTEN BY LEIGH RIPLEYMy editorial for our pregnancy and new baby issue gets harder and harder eachyear. My “baby” is 9 now, and her sisters are 11 and 14 years old. Pregnancy,delivery and having...
