Chris Croll

Whether or not you have children enrolled in Loudoun County Public Schools, the upcoming general election is an important one. At least six of the nine seated School Board members will be new since six current board members, myself included, are not running for re-election. It takes five votes to pass any legislation, policies or other action items so the new School Board will likely have a tremendous impact on the future of public education in our county. The quality of our schools attracts not only homeowners but businesses like Amazon and Google.

“I wish I could help out at my child’s school, but I don’t have time to go in and volunteer,” parents often say. Fortunately, busy parents can provide support for their child’s learning experience here in Loudoun County without ever stepping foot in the classroom.

When I recently quit Facebook, reactions from friends were mixed. Several friends jokingly accused me of abandoning them, a few congratulated me, and others admitted they wished they could leave social media, too, but they just didn’t think they could do it. I’m here to tell you that it’s easier than you might think and there are many benefits to doing so.

Whether you are relaxing at the beach, sitting on a long flight or just chilling at home this summer, here are five books I read this month that are sure to captivate your attention and expand your thinking in new directions.

As you spend more time with your family this summer, here are a few TED Talks that might change the way you interact with your children, how you judge yourself and how you operate in the world around you.

As we parents watch our children develop friendships at each age and stage, we find ourselves wondering which kids will be “friends for a reason,” which will be “friends for a season,” and which will be the coveted “friends for all times.” Here are a few characteristics to share with your children that define healthy teen friendships. (Psst…these pretty much apply for adults, too).

By Chris Croll Here in Northern Virginia, we’re all about pushing play: Work hard, party hard, parent hard, sport hard,

By Chris Croll Doesn’t it seem the world has become a lot less courteous lately? Drivers, customers, pedestrians and others

Two Japanese trends aimed at helping people manage stress are popping up in social discussions all around Loudoun County. One practice relates to reducing the stress of a cluttered home and the other involves leaving the home altogether.

Emotional intelligence is critically important for success in life. Research shows having a high “EQ” (emotional quotient) has a greater impact on a person’s happiness than does their IQ (intellectual quotient).