One Mom, Three Kids, Many Adventures
With one notable exception, the public response to my new hairstyle has been overwhelmingly positive. The exception was my eleven-year-old daughter. She doesn’t like change. At all. Not even in the form of her mother’s funky new haircut. She cried when I showed her my inspiration picture. When I arrived home from the salon, she… Continue reading Some Thoughts on Looking Younger
Have you ever made a decision that, once made, was so obviously the right one that you wonder how it took you so long to arrive at it? That happened to me recently. Before you get your hopes up that this is a really profound article, full of deep meaning and existential considerations, let me… Continue reading Hair Cut of Destiny
It’s an exhilarating experience, stumbling across a new passion. There you are, going about your business, living your life with cheerful enthusiasm and maybe even a bit of sparkle, when – wham – out of the blue you encounter something that lights a new flame. This intro could be the start of a romance novel.… Continue reading Seeking Beauty in the Year to Come
I didn’t make the frosting for my son’s cookie decorating party. And I have no regrets. In my desire to make holidays magical for my kids, I can sometimes set the bar too high for myself. (Please refer to previous articles discussing my hang-up about store-bought valentines for reference.) But this year, I made a… Continue reading Spending Your Magic Wisely
I used to secretly laugh at people who put sweaters on their dogs. I would now like to formally apologize to those people, having recently bought a lovely reversible plaid jacket for my dog. He looks quite dashing. It turns out that my big, strong dog is a total wimp when it comes to the… Continue reading Adapting to Life with a Wimpy Dog
It was somewhere just past the halfway point of the sugar cookie baking spree that ultimately produced nine dozen cutout cookie shapes that I realized I may have over-committed to Christmas cheer this year. I love Christmas. I love everything about it. I love the lights and the colors. I love the waiting and anticipation.… Continue reading How to Handle Too Much Christmas
It wasn’t until I got divorced that I realized how much I enjoy being alone. Don’t get me wrong – I am thoroughly extroverted. Being around people gives me energy. I enjoy book club meetings and potlucks with friends. My favorite part of my job is the daily interaction with other people. When pondering the… Continue reading Even Extroverts Need Down Time
I am steadily losing ground in my efforts to keep a clear delineation between “dog space” and “people space” in my home. In fact, as I type this, said dog is asleep beside me on the couch, kicking my thigh as his paws twitch in time to some engrossing canine dream. A dog. On my… Continue reading King of the Couch
Parenting three elementary children requires one to merge the skills of a juggler, a choreographer, and a limousine service – and that’s just to manage one’s daily schedule. Sometimes I swear we cram a week’s worth of activity into a single afternoon. Tuesdays are particularly vicious right now, as my eldest child has back-to-back piano… Continue reading The Frantic Choreography of Extracurriculars
Can we all agree that one’s last-born child is a magical creature? They’re all magical in their own ways, of course, each imbued with unique traits that make them singularly beloved. But I found myself reflecting on the powerful enchantment wielded by the “baby” of the family, having spent several days with my own baby… Continue reading Reveling in the Magic of the Youngest Child
