Teens

The reverent phrase, “Remember that you are dust and to dust, you shall return,” never loses its power over me even after hearing it my entire life. When I kneel and ashes are marked as a cross on my...

Now that I'm a parent, it feels like I am constantly receiving advice, and constantly seeking it out. Occasionally, I'm asked to give it. I've discovered that nothing--NOTHING--teaches you how to filter advice like parenthood. The other day, a friend...

"Tis the holiday season!  I love this time of year, even though my kids are basically grown.  At ages 18 and 16, the jig is up, the word is out, and the element of surprise is no longer a...

  My son made this picture when he was in 5th grade.  It may have been for one of those fundraisers where your baby creates a masterpiece and then you have to buy it from the school for $49.95, but...

Like any mom who’s been in the game for a while, I’ve gained some street cred over the years. I know my way around crying babies and explosive diapers. I’ve navigated the terrible twos and the reign of a...

Even though I have a few years before the dreaded "birds and the bees" conversations with my kids, I do think about the future when they step over the line from childhood to adolescence. Will they feel comfortable talking...

I discovered something recently, I don’t know how to slow down. I blame it on my nursing career. My days are filled with educating patients, answering questions, and charting, all so I can get patients through their visit in...

Senior Year, that magical time when you embark on a journey with fellow parental spirits through the mysteries of Testing, Applications, Graduation, Parties, and the Evil Empty Nest.  You swear allegiance to Facebook support groups, start Pinterest boards, and...

My family celebrates Christmas, and when my kids were little, my husband and I experienced it entirely through their eyes.  The joy they found in the traditions, the food, the music, and the wonder of the season was simply...

I have a 4th grade daughter named Vivian.  She is almost ten years old and I see that she’s quickly transitioning from a kid to a pre-teen.  Transitioning from “mom, I need your help” to “mom, do you even...