Kathy Landin

The Elf on the Shelf—whether you find him cute, annoying or somewhere in between, he's everywhere these days, making the holiday season even more complicated for parents. We did a little investigating on this elusive creature that has become a phenomenon, and discovered a few things we didn't expect.

When your kids go back to school, it’s almost like you go back to school, too. Teachers and childhood development professionals agree that when a child’s parents are involved in his education, he learns more and gets better grades. That means, you have just as big a responsibility in his schoolwork as he does.

Somehow or another summer has flown by and the kiddos are headed back to school again. And that means it’s time to shop for supplies.

Even though you love your kids dearly and want to spend time with them, the months that kids are out of school can be the longest of the year for any parent. The key to a peaceful summer household is keeping the kids busy and entertained.

The service men and women of our country make huge sacrifices to fight battles on our behalf and keep the freedoms we hold dear. One of those sacrifices is being away from their families and loved ones for long periods of time. The only thing that makes this sacrifice bearable for most is the incredible sweetness of coming home, even if it is only for a short leave.

In an announcement made earlier this month, the US Postal Service told customers that as of May 16, they will no longer ship electronics like iPads, Kindles, smartphones and other devices containing lithium batteries overseas. This means that people who want to ship electronics to troops serving abroad will have to pay a premium to go through private shipping services.

It’s just about the sweetest thing when your husband and kids give you a beautiful bouquet of flowers for Mother’s Day. A thoughtful husband will get them from a store. A thoughtful kid will get them from your yard. Either way, the sentiment is adorable and always well received.

Here’s a look at some notable birthdays being celebrated today: Bono Age: 52 Occupation: Singer Known For: Being the outspoken frontman for U2 and the world’s richest rock star, leading the group to 22 Grammys (more than any other rock band), being nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize, and tirelessly tackling many humanitarian causes.

Here’s a look at some notable birthdays being celebrated today: Billy Joel Age: 63 Occupation: Singer Known For: Winning six Grammy Awards out of 23 Grammy nominations, well-known and timeless hits like ‘Piano Man,’ ‘Only the Good Die Young,’ ‘For the Longest Time,’ ‘She’s Always a Woman,’ and ‘You May Be Right,’ and getting kicked out of Christie Brinkley’s uptown world.

Here’s a look at some notable birthdays being celebrated today: Alex Van Halen Age: 59 Occupation: Rock drummer Known For: Being one half of the brother duo who created the rock colossus that is Van Halen, winning a Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance for the album ‘For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge,’ and for being an ordained minister, having performed marriage ceremonies for both his brother and f

Here’s a look at some notable birthdays being celebrated today: Bob Seger Age: 67 Occupation: Rock legend Known For: Putting together the legendary Silver Bullet Band and propelling them to fame, writing and recording song of the century ‘Old Time Rock and Roll,’ being the genius behind hits like ‘Against the Wind,’ ‘Night Moves,’ and ‘Like a Rock,’ and for being Bob Seger.

Here’s a look at some notable birthdays being celebrated today: Adele Age: 24 Occupation: Singer Known For: Walking away with a Grammy for each of the six categories in which her 2011 release ‘21’ was nominated, being the first female solo artist to have three singles in the Billboard top 10 at the same time, and for staging a huge comeback after having to cancel two tours and have surgery because