Flat Stanley Brings Out the Kid in Us All

As our kids enter middle school a seriousness descends on them. Anything associated with small children is “childish” and must be forsaken. As a stay-at-home parent, I noted that this attitude really only came out when peers were present. At other times, they laughed at kids’ shows just as frequently as the younger ones and sometimes their laughter was even […]

Being a Parent at Your Alma Mater

It’s time to celebrate this boy. When I walked across the stage 30 years ago to receive my college diploma I was thinking of what I accomplished. While I was hopeful for the future, it wasn’t the time to dwell on where I would be a week a month or years later. I was living in the moment. When my […]

When You Have One “Last” Summer to Prepare Your Teen

We all make note of our children’s “firsts:” their first smile, first tooth, first step, first day of kindergarten. Especially with my youngest, as my kids moved on to big milestones (moving from elementary to middle school, for example) I started noting the lasts, with more than a little melancholy. With the youngest, these lasts were also lasts for me. […]

When You Don’t Realize the “Lasts” Already Happened

As my youngest completes her college journey I am again faced with the question: “What now?” While I easily adjusted to no longer being a daily chauffeur, my life has still been somewhat dictated by a school calendar. With two in college, most of the past few years have been a constantly revolving door – while one would leave, the […]