“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.”

      ~ Old Proverb

Sometimes there is just no substitute for buckling down, putting our noses to the grindstone and completing the job. It’s a lesson that children need to learn, but that doesn’t mean life is all about work. In many ways, play time is just as important. And as with many things in life, there should be a balance.

If you’re the parent of a child who is learning remotely, that balance can be tough to find. Your child is at home, without the normal structure that being in school provides. Your first thought may be to impose that structure. You may even think of it as a benefit, since without the distraction of coming and going to school or dealing with classmates, your child should be able to get more learning done. 

While structure is good, resist the urge to push too hard. Allow some play time in there too. Play time isn’t even necessarily wasted time. Play frees the mind to think creatively and to apply new approaches to problem solving. Even if you’re playing a game, you still have to use your head. You have to learn and interpret the rules, use strategy and think on your feet. The skills we develop from play are often just as important to our eventual success as the ones we get from a book.

Strive to find that perfect balance between work and play for your child. You may have to work at it, and even adjust it, but if you’re successful, your Jack (or Jill) will be anything but dull.

The first and most obvious thing about filing your taxes this year is that you do have to file. There’s really no getting out of it. Despite what you may hear on the news or from your fellow taxpayers, it doesn’t have to be a painful experience. 

Similar to last year, when the IRS and many state agencies extended the filing deadline due to the Covid crises, the date for filing your taxes has been extended again. This year’s deadline is now May 17^th. You may still request an extension until October 15^th if you need more time.

Filing your taxes may not always go right the first time, meaning you may need to file an amended return. One change this year is that, for the first time, most amended returns can be electronically filed, meaning you won’t have to wait months for it to be processed.

However, don’t expect a quick response from the IRS this year. While hopefully the worst of the pandemic has passed, many IRS offices are still shuttered, and a great portion of IRS agents are working from their homes. The agency is relying on automated systems more than ever before. That may mean smooth sailing for your return. On the other hand, if your return requires a human touch, you may be in for a long wait. The IRS hasn’t fully processed last year’s returns let alone this year’s offerings.

We continue to hear on the news that we are living in unprecedented times. Well, tax season is no exception. Here’s hoping your tax filing is easy and painless this year.

The one constant in life is change, and your taxes are not immune. The ongoing pandemic produced an unprecedented response from congress in the form of the CARES Act. While not as extensive as the sweeping tax changes that were passed a few years ago, the CARES Act will nevertheless have an impact on your taxes.

If you were ever going to pull from your retirement, 2020 was the year to do it. If the withdrawal was Coronavirus related, you won’t have to pay the normal ten percent penalty for the early distribution. You can even pay the taxes on the distribution over three years instead of taking the hit this year.

You may be wondering about the first two stimulus payments you received. If you got the amount you were supposed to, it won’t have any effect on your taxes. If for some reason you didn’t receive one or both payments, you can claim that on your tax return.

When it comes to unemployment benefits, the news is definitely mixed. Many people received the enhanced unemployment benefits last year, and unfortunately these benefits are fully taxable. If you had ten percent withheld for taxes, you should be okay at the federal level, but since state agencies won’t withhold state taxes from your unemployment, don’t be surprised if you have to send a check to your state capital this year.

One more recent change is that the federal government and most state tax authorities have extending the filing and payment deadlines for 2021to May 17^th. We hope these changes are changes for the better and you have a great 2021, taxes or not. 

Spring has come, and soon a young child’s fancy turns towards… Easter baskets! Even if you don’t celebrate Easter, it’s hard not to notice all the Peep candies, the chocolate bunnies and the one-thousand-and-one Easter egg dyeing kits populating the shelves. As he or she is gnawing one of those aforementioned chocolate hares, your inquisitive little one is bound to ask what all the fuss is about. 

According to Christian teachings, Easter is the time of the Resurrection, when, simply put, Jesus Christ returned from the dead and ascended to Heaven. It’s a central tenet of Christian belief. Of course, all the talk about life, death and rebirth may be a little weighty for children. If you’re looking for ways to teach children about the meaning behind the Easter celebration without unnerving them, try some of these suggestions.

Now that still doesn’t quite explain where jelly beans and bunnies come into the picture. As early Christianity spread through Europe, the celebration of Easter gradually replaced the old pagan spring festivals. The word ‘Easter’ actually comes from Ēostre, the Germanic goddess of spring, who would often take the form of a hare. Here are some more insights into the history of Easter, which might help you reconcile resurrections and rabbits a little better when your kids ask. 

Even if you’re not religious, teaching your children about the meaning behind this colorful holiday can help them understand other people’s faiths, and these days a little understanding can go a long way.

Happy Easter! 

From colorful baskets to chocolate bunnies, Easter gets all the attention when it comes to spring holidays. Without a doubt, it’s the biggest kid on the holiday block. However, it’s not the only holiday in town. Passover is another important holiday that is often ‘passed over’ in the popular imagination. 

So what is Passover, and why is it important? It’s tempting to just think of it as the Jewish version of Easter, but it’s quite different. You won’t find any mention of bunnies in Passover tradition. Instead it’s meant to commemorate the liberation of the Hebrews from their bondage in Egypt. It’s one of the oldest continuously celebrated holidays and typically runs for seven or eight days, depending on where you live. The most common food eaten during Passover is unleavened (without yeast) bread that symbolizes the Hebrews rapid flight from the land of the Pharaohs. They left in such a hurry they didn’t have time to wait for their bread to rise. In fact, no leavened bread or any other product containing yeast is eaten during this time. Celebrations take place all over the world, including Poland, Ethiopia and even Nepal. See this site for more information about Passover and how it’s celebrated. 

Even if you don’t celebrate it, learning about Passover and the traditions behind it is a great way to understand different cultures. It can help those who do celebrate Passover to feel represented and valued, bringing us all a little closer together in our shared humanity. 

After a long winter of being cooped up indoors, you’re probably feeling the urge to finally get outside and enjoy the weather. You’ve probably already seen the bulbs, seeds and colorful flowerpots begin to appear on the store shelves, so what could be a better way to celebrate spring than to start your own garden?

It’s a great hobby for young and old alike, and no, you don’t have to have a proverbial green thumb to be successful. What you do need to do is give your future garden some thought and do a little planning before your trusty spade or shovel ever hits the ground. 

The three basic considerations for your project are what kind of garden you want, how much space you have and what kind of soil you have to work with. The answers to these questions will help shed some light on an even more important consideration; how much time and money you’ll need.

Here is a basic garden guide to get you started. If you’re short on space, try this guide for tiny gardens. If you’re dealing with poor soil, here are some natural ways to recondition it so it’s suitable for gardening. 

Gardening really is a great hobby. It gets you outside in the fresh air and sunshine. It can give your house some extra curb appeal, and with a little planning, you can do as much or as little as you like. Few things beat the satisfaction of being surrounded by growing things in the spring. If this hobby sounds like the thing for you, then check our guides and grab your shovel. The only thing you have to fear is a little dirt underneath your fingernails.