It’s a Mutha Out There

Now that I don’t have to do them on a regular basis, there are chores that I am so glad I don’t have to do anymore. Making lunches is at the top of that list. So much so that I hardly ever make my own lunch. I buy lunch pretty …

The crazier this country gets, the more I think about the values and lessons my parents taught me and my brothers. First and foremost in our household was the Golden Rule — “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” This is something I will never forget. …

It’s a new year and a chance for a do-over. A chance to get some things right and not repeat past missteps. Those are a few things I like about a new year. There are a few habits I would like to change and I say that every year. I …

I always wondered who ate that one slice of fruitcake and what was wrong with them. Having fruitcake around is a tradition of sorts but it is a peculiar one. As a child I recall that my Aunt Ethel would make one of these every holiday. My parents would smile …

My daughter, Grace, is the biggest loser in the family. You name it, she has lost it. This past summer, she turned the household upside down and on its side looking for her lost possessions. When she could not find them, we had to bear the brunt of her frustration …

I was in four different countries recently and was delighted to see that mothers all over the world are struggling with the same crap. I saw firsthand from Munich to Milan that mothers are still taking most of the responsibility for the children. Perhaps it’s just part of who we …

Hopefully I am not the only one who blames their kids for things that happen. Not big things, but significant enough to be problematic. My youngest, Grace, pointed this out to me the other day when I blamed her for leaving the grocery list and the umbrella at home, and making …

Is there a gun your house? Is it locked up? For some reason, parents I have talked to say they find these to be hard questions to ask their peers. You wouldn’t have a problem asking other parents about what the kids will be doing while at their house. Or …

The graduation announcements are pouring in and that means shelling out a lot of money, or maybe not. Already, I have two invitations and I am sure there will be more. I am proud of these young people I have watched grow and follow their path. Now it’s time to …

The other day I came across some really cute notes and writings from my daughter Grace. Reading them made me nostalgic for her childhood. They reminded me of how loving, giving and sensitive she was — and still is. Not to mention creative. I found the writings and drawings under …