Kris Ann Valdez
Freelancer
Latest
A work conference was my first solo trip, and I was nervous about leaving my husband and kids. I ended up loving it, and explored for two extra days.
4 min read
My foster brother only lived with us for two years, but I've always considered him my sibling. I named the main character in my first novel after him.
4 min read
On just the second day of school, I pulled my kids out to go on a family trip. They learned about history, nature, and spent time with family.
4 min read
My husband had $20,000 in student loan debt, while I graduated debt-free. I care more about my kids avoiding debt than where they go to college.
4 min read
I asked a friend to deep-clean with me to lighten the load. We cleaned each other's houses together and it saved time and money. on a house cleaner.
4 min read
My grandpa, 90, credits his longevity to daily walks and bodyweight workouts with my grandma, 87. He's also his cardiologist's "poster child."
4 min read
I'm a mom of three with a full-time job. A professional organizer taught me decluttering tips that changed how I clean.
4 min read
I resisted buying my son a Switch, then gave in. Watching his behavior change made me rethink it — and he eventually gave it up himself.
4 min read
My family of 7 took a multigenerational trip to Paris. We made a few mistakes and realized that paying for convenience was almost always worth it.
5 min read
I worried about safety, but letting my kids bike around the neighborhood helped build confidence, independence, and stronger bonds.
4 min read
Being the oldest of eight made time alone with my parents rare. A weekend trip with my family gave them a chance to be grandparents to my kids.
4 min read
I'm the oldest of eight, with five foster siblings. There are pros and cons — I learned a scarcity mindset, but there's so much love in our family.
5 min read
I wanted my family of five to travel more, so I created budgeting strategies to take more vacations. I know when to splurge and when to save.
5 min read
I helped my daughter with her school project this year and I regret taking over. It took away her autonomy, and next time, I'll let her do it herself.
4 min read
My large family uses a healthshare, but I wanted to explore the marketplace. The plans looked affordable, but I then realized they won't work for us.
4 min read
I never thought my family would need SNAP benefits. I was grateful for the help when my husband was laid off right after I had our third kid.
4 min read
Parenting three kids five years apart brings both chaos and calm — here's why the age gap has surprising perks and a few challenges.
4 min read
My grandparents have been married for 65 years. They say independence in a relationship is important, and they show gratitude in small, everyday ways.
4 min read
I've planned more than 100 family vacations. My itinerary keeps everyone happy, but I'm also blamed when things go wrong.
4 min read
School's starting again. I feel guilty that I let my kids blow off their summer homework, but at least we made a lot of memories.
3 min read
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