For those of you with school age children - what are your summers like? Are they a time to explore new interests, further develop skills and pad college applications? Are your children busy with summer jobs or camps? Maybe they're already tackling their summer reading lists to get a jump on things for fall. All … Continue reading A rich summer vs. summer enrichment
Tag: parenting
Expectations
What are "reasonable" expectations? Are you comfortable with those you have and, presumably, honor? I was thinking about some of the expectations I have and considering their degree of realism. I think I do ok with most of them. My problem comes when I allow something external to start putting the squeeze on me - … Continue reading Expectations
What (this) Mom really wants for Mother’s Day…
to… • wake up and not need to immediately take the dog out because one of the Fabulous Lilly Boys (FLB) already has done the job • make extra coffee and enjoy it on the back deck in the morning sunshine • find the newspaper on the dining room table without having to actually leave … Continue reading What (this) Mom really wants for Mother’s Day…
My just deserts
We celebrated a birthday this week, in a fairly low-key fashion. While I generally write a birthday piece and devote it to the celebrant, I struggled with a cohesive message when it came to my middle son's birthday and a litany of pithy observations and attributes just felt forced. You see, he is, as my … Continue reading My just deserts
Joe (go to) College
Did you happen to see this article in the Times Union recently? I'm sure lots of folks feel gratified by their decision to reside in one of the successful suburban districts which are considered to be the best in the region. Me? I'm left with more questions than answers by the conclusions drawn and I … Continue reading Joe (go to) College
Good morning, heartache
My middle son is going through a phase which I am calling his “asshole phase.” Please, hear me out on this. He is a smart, social, funny and athletic kid and I love him dearly, but he is having a very difficult time understanding that “with great power comes great responsibility.” As a parent who … Continue reading Good morning, heartache
On the edge of 17
It’s been almost 17 years since I became a parent. Impossible. When my water broke 5+ weeks before my due date, I remember feeling more excited than nervous, confident that my baby would be healthy and hearty. The unusually warm temperature (a record, it turned out) seemed a positive beacon and I went to the … Continue reading On the edge of 17