Being a mom taught me that when you love someone, simply observing and acknowledging their passions can be as meaningful (or even more so), than doing these things yourself. You don’t need to share that passion to take joy from the activity. My four children are four very different individuals, and though they do share some interests, each has specific […]
We work hard all year and look forward to taking time off. We may have vision boards with sandy beaches or mountain retreats, with families sitting around fire pits or playing games around a large table. We count down the days to cozy family time, where everyone is smiling through long hikes, enjoying new foods and settling into strange beds […]
How many days until summer break? If you’re a kid, teacher or parent, you probably know without checking. While it’s nice to think about days of freedom from alarm clocks and schedules, many parents may also be struggling with worry and dread. Yes, it will be nice to have a less intense schedule, but the lack of structure can be […]
Everything I Wish I Could Tell You About Midlife, A Woman’s Guide to Health in the Body You Actually Have, by Mikala Albertson, MD is the book all women need. Consider it the “What to Expect” book for those entering or in the midst of perimenopause. It’s nice to see talk about something as normal and ordinary as menopause being […]
I am no longer actively parenting teens (I’m now in the “beyond” stage) but I have teens in my extended family and many of my friends have teenagers. While I survived those sometimes tumultuous years, it was sometimes lonely and like many others, I sometimes questioned if I was making the right choices. I’m happy to see more writers talking […]
The years tend to sneak up. One day you bring a newborn home, and then you blink and have a sassy school age child. Another blink and you have a small adult in front of you. Of course children grow and become more independent all this time, but it happens gradually, in small ways that you tend to not notice. […]
If you have teens, you are likely entering a new stage of life yourself. You may be struggling with your own hormones, battling stray hairs that pop up in strange places, and questioning your own life choices. You may be concerned that your parents are showing signs of aging or may be sliding into a new role with them, as […]
The summer I sent my last child off to college seemed to go faster than most. Before we knew it, we were getting ready to send one, then another child off to their respective schools. A week in between move-in days made it possible to focus on each of them, one at a time, but made for a very busy […]
I am at a point in my life where being a cheerleader is a primary parenting role. Now this may conjure up some pretty funny images (I abandoned the appropriate age and body type in the 80s), but nonetheless, it is an apt description. There is little hands-on parenting for me to do on a day-to-day basis; for the most […]
When we first started the college search with our oldest, study abroad was one of her requirements, and was almost as important to her as her choice of major. We were supportive of this interest, believing that travel only adds value to life. We were concerned about the additional costs it would incur, but left the possibility on the table. […]
