Teenage tunnel
It’s happening. I’ve seen the symptoms before so it’s easier to diagnose it this time. And even though I know what it is and I know it’s not permanent, it’s still unsettling. My kid –…
Columns
Women versus the machines
Sometimes I yell at inanimate objects. Usually it’s one of the electronics – the printer, computer, television, garage door, microwave, and even the remote control. And the question I yell most often is this: “Why…
I heart Band Geeks
Last night, I went to our middle child’s 7th grade band concert, and it felt like going home to my roots and my people. Like my son, I’m a proud “band geek.” Always will be.…
Swim down memory lane
I read a magazine article today about a new type of portable pool you can install in the back of a truck. It’s called a Pick-Up Pool, and it looks like a sleeker version of…
Small cart, big dreams
I went to Wal-Mart yesterday while the kids were at school and glanced longingly over at the new, fun-sized shopping carts lined up outside the automatic doors. Have you seen them yet? They’re about half…
Academic Football
Ours is not what you’d call a “sports family.” We like to watch college football and basketball and our kids compete in a few swim meets during the summer, but we’re not hard-core about it.…
Anniversary of the worst day
Every year about this time, I wish there was a fast-forward button for life. I wouldn’t skip much – just a few days or so. Like most families, mine has an anniversary we don’t celebrate…
Restaurant Wars
Of all the questions Americans grapple with, there’s one that pops up more frequently than the rest: “Where do you want to go eat?” Deciding should be easy. There are plenty of restaurants to choose…
Parent and kids post reviews on each other
As most parents know, one of the requirements of the job is to drive. Especially as kids get older and have more activities, the driving demands go way up. Often, time alone in the car…
Pillow Talk
Well, we did it. We thought about it for a long time but something always held us back – vanity, frugality, perhaps a desperate grip on the last remaining scraps of our youth. But now…