Recently a 97-year-old New York man left his $40 million fortune to....no one. People need to encourage their friends and family to start sharing their wishes and their wants...to make it an acceptable discussion topic.

I don't need any grand gestures on Mother's Day. Maybe when my kids are older (they're four and two now) they'll help daddy cook me terrible tasting pancakes and make freshly squeezed orange juice with way too much pulp in it. And that will be awesome. For my family, Mother's Day is more like Family Day.

According to the latest Statistics Canada report on household demographics, the nuclear family is no longer the norm. But are Italians, one of the country's largest ethnic groups, rethinking family composition in step with other Canadians? If so, how do these changes interplay with cultural identity?

The memories of my mother are not of a cancer victim, they are not of a shaved head, or intravenous tubes, or a frail body. They are her wonderful spirit, her brave beautiful smile, and a loving acceptance of life that was contagious with everyone she touched. My mother didn't just talk the talk, she walked the walk.

As the boss of your family, you will likely find a mission statement handy, if for no other reason than to remind yourself of what you were thinking when you brought these people into the world. And why you shouldn't take them out. Corporately, a mission statement should address the employees, the shareholders, and the customers. Here's a quick primer on adapting those three categories to family life.

It's that time of year again, where for one "special" day we're reminded to celebrate our love for one another. Although I believe we shouldn't need a reminder, as a busy working mother of three, I'll take any excuse to spend more time with my family and do something special together.

The structure of families is changing worldwide, and based on a new report, some children are better off living with one parent than two. Accordi...

We thrive happily and co-operatively in healthy social environments. As you think of how your family might be stronger in 2013, I suggest you invite all the stakeholders to participate in making your resolutions together, and here's how. Have a family meeting and ask the kids these questions.

Where do you turn to find that perfect gift for your kids? We tend to look everywhere but the most obvious place: our kids. And I don't mean the list for Santa they've been compiling and revising since last Christmas. What our kids really want they will never write down on a list. make sure you maximize the time for you and your kids. That's the perfect gift this holiday season.

Often when I meet a couple with one child, the discussion of whether they should grow their family comes up. As the mom of five kids, people feel comfortable discussing family size with me, and I'm asked to weigh in on the topic. Here's my take on the matter.

The holidays are a time where we can recognize and appreciate the beautiful people in our lives. Families and friends make time to get together and it can also be a time to reflect on the past year. However, many of us may find it stressful dealing with all the activities and crowds. Stay calm this season by taking the following steps:

It's completely normal want to protect your kids when they come home crying because someone was blatantly mean to them. But isn't it true that dealing with these situations helps build character? And if they can't deal with these situations and only rely on us, aren't we setting them up for failure in the future?

When it comes to discipline, many parents have taken a large step backwards, and technology is to blame. In this day and age of smart phone journalism, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook shares, parents have become wary and hesitant of punishing their children in case their actions at any moment are recorded and uploaded to a willing audience in a matter of seconds.

I've been using the power of Santa Claus for a few weeks now, and things are looking good. For maximum effectiveness, the use of Santa and his omnipresence is good for the window directly following Halloween until December 25. During this time, I enjoy the increased attentiveness, dearth of meltdowns and general calm that precedes Christmas day.

Technology has invaded our dinner space with television, tablets, and of course the constant use of smartphones, with email and texting. Eliminate the distractions and start talking. Mom and dad need to be the role models for this behaviour, so put away the phone before you sit down at the table, and make it a family rule.