Parenting situations
That’s Not Fair!
I hear the words “That’s not fair!” on an almost daily basis around here. It doesn’t matter what the issue is, if something appears to be unequal to one of my kids, those words come out of their mouths. Kids and teenagers often equate fair with equal. Does my sibling have the same amount of … Continue reading
Calming the Fears
We live in tornado country. My girls know what to do if the sirens go off, whether they’re at school, on the soccer field or at home — find the lowest spot with the most walls and the fewest windows between you and the outside and hunker down. Thankfully, we’ve never seen a tornado in … Continue reading
Keeping Our Kids Safe
Ever since the news broke that police had found three women who had been missing in Cleveland for 10 years, I’ve been thinking about keeping my girls safe. My girls are 10 and almost 12. They’re past the age where I can keep that at my side all the time. They’re past the age where … Continue reading
When Mom is Wrong
The other day, my younger daughter brought home a math paper that didn’t have a passing grade on it. It was pretty out of character for her as she’s usually pretty good in math. When I asked her about it, the conversation went something like this. “I don’t think you understand this concept. Please bring … Continue reading
When Decisions Aren’t Easy
Recently, my daughter didn’t get invited to a birthday party for one of her friends. I knew the party was going on, but I didn’t tell her. I was hopeful that she wouldn’t find out about it at all. And, truthfully, I didn’t want to be the one to rub salt in the wound. She … Continue reading
When Mom’s Hugs and Kisses Aren’t Enough
Yesterday, I wished my girls were toddlers again. I wished that all it took to heal their wounds was a kiss on the skinned knee. As my daughters get older, their wounds are often less physical and more emotional. The constant criticism of a coach. A math test that got the better of them. A … Continue reading
Wallowing in a Sea of Uncertainty
I remember the first days when we brought our older daughter home from the hospital. We had no idea what to do with her. When do we feed her? How do we make her stop crying? How much do babies really need to sleep? We were new parents who had read all the books but … Continue reading
3 Things My 11-year-old Has Taught Me About Commitment
Most days, I spend my days teaching my kids. I gently correct. I explain things. I give advice. But in this process of teaching my kids, I often find that I learn as much as they do. The other day, my older daughter taught me a lesson about commitment. Two weeks ago, she came home … Continue reading
Hitting the Reset Button
My older daughter doesn’t care much for math this year. It’s a hard class. It’s frustrating for her to have to study so much just to get a decent grade. It’s been a new experience for her. My husband and I want her to do well, but I’m not much of a math guru. I … Continue reading
Crying for Boston
I shed tears yesterday for the city that my heart will always call home. I grew up in Boston. I love the city. I love the history. I love the spirit. I even love the gruffness of its residents. I love the pageantry of Patriots Day – the early Red Sox game and the Boston … Continue reading
