From the time my children were born, I’ve been on a mission to do things “right.” For me, that entailed reading dozens of parenting books, talking with child psychologists, and volunteering at a local public health nonprofit organization that focused on helping parents foster healthy child...
Every day I make parenting choices based on a combination of instinct, experience, and fear, and then I pray for the best. These two kids mean everything to me, so I can't tell you how many times I've bargained with God, especially during their teen years. Of all the goals in my life, the biggest...
My mother visited this past weekend. She's come regularly since my first child's birth, providing much-needed help when my kids were young, and welcome company now. Despite living in another state, she’s here often enough to witness my parenting highs and lows. This weekend she saw a bit of both,...
Here comes summer! Temperatures have jumped dramatically. My kids are currently taking finals. And the gardens are in full bloom. Yes, summer is officially here. As usual, our family calendar is stuffed with various out-of-town sports and leadership camps, as well as pleasure trips and family...
Who else goes on vacation and wonders why they shouldn't just up and move to an exotic location? I doubt I'm alone and, if you'd been with my family and me in Turks and Caicos, you might've decided to stay there. Vacations are a wonderful way to rejuvenate the spirit, reconnect with your family...
I confess, I like to control my environment. In fact, one of my favorite things about writing is that I can dictate every single aspect of my characters and their lives. If only my children and husband would give me that same power! Since my 50th birthday this past fall, however, I’ve begun to...
You've heard it all before, right? Complaints about retailers who put up Christmas decorations by Halloween, the commercialization of a religious holiday, and the stress and exhaustion (and emptied checkbook) caused by hunting down "the perfect" holiday gifts. I'm not sure how you handle it all,...
They say you can tell a lot about a person from the way they handle themselves on the golf course. Does she cheat? Does she throw a fit when things aren't going well? Does she understand the etiquette? However she plays that game is likely how she handles herself in life, at work, and so on. I...
