I heard the line click when my mother picked up the phone. “Hello?” She answered in her familiar, warm voice. It put my fried brain at ease straightaway. “Mom?” I cried out. “Oh, honey, what is wrong? Are the children all right?” Her voice was dripping with a combination of […]
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Follow the Yellow Path
She sat quietly on the toilet lid, hoping the kids wouldn’t find her. It was only a matter of time before one of her three children blew her cover, but she really needed space and there was nowhere else to hide. “How did I get here?” she asked while putting […]
7 Reasons I Am Thankful My Kids Are Older
Babies and small children are precious, and I tend to get a bit nostalgic for days gone by. My children are all adults now; the two youngest are in college. Having spent almost of all of my adult life as a parent, I am just now discovering what it is […]
Working Together Is How to Guarantee Success
When my kids were in school, they sometimes were assigned group projects. Many times, the teacher selected the groups, rather than allowing students to always work with their friends. (This may make the work less fun, but when you friend is a slacker, you appreciate this.) Sometimes, these projects caused […]
How to Find Stories That Will Make Them Put Down the Smartphone
Last month was Family History Month. As we move into November and December, many of us are likely to get together with family, both old and young. In today’s busy families, the holidays may be the only time generations get to spend time together. This can be a cause for […]
Are Teens Too Old to Trick-or-Treat?
Teenagers occupy a strange in-between world. They are no longer children, but they are not yet adults. They are quick to abandon “babylike” things, then almost as quick to regret that they have done so. It is during the teen years that many of us start to wonder why […]
What This Presidential Campaign Is Teaching Us About Parenting
This presidential election has been like no other. Animosity and discord have grown tremendously over the past year. There has been name calling and mudslinging. One might say this is common in elections, but this year, things seem personal. I believe that this election is teaching us some things. We […]
I Found Pain Relief With Medical Marijuana
Living with a disease that causes chronic pain was never part of my life plans. I couldn’t have prepared for it. Even if I had known what was in store beforehand. Pain. Limitations. Treatments. Therapies. Depression. They’re all part of the package. Finding relief while learning to navigate around my […]