My daughter-in-law recently sent me a list of items my two-year-old granddaughter might like for Christmas. Apparently she’s discovered books, so her list included several traditional fairy tales. The next day, I was at the local bookstore, leafing through some classic choices, and I suddenly realized how disturbing many of these stories might be to a small child. Seriously, these […]
Grandma’s Rules. #1: There Are No Rules
“Mimi.” “Nana.” “Nanny.” “GG.” “G-Ma.” All names for Grandma. Whether you prefer one over another because your offspring’s tiny mini-me’s have two or more grandmothers and you want to reduce the wee one’s confusion as to exactly which grandma is on the phone, or because the word “grandma” makes you feel like Aunt Bee of Mayberry […]
Mother’s Day and an Empty Nest. It’s All Good
I grew up with five siblings. Three older brothers and two sisters, one older and one younger. Mother’s Days were big, boisterous affairs, with kids either chipping in together to get Mom something expensive and fabulous, or competing with each other to see who come up with the most impressive and tear-inducing offering. Mom was adamant about […]
A 50th Birthday, Menopause, and An Empty Nest. Are We Done Yet??
In 2006, I turned 50. That was also the year menopause finally decided I’d had enough. But just when I thought my life might return to normal, my only child moved out. As for birthdays, my favorite was 30. It sounded mature and sophisticated. Turning 40 was fun. I was still healthy and attractive (if you’re grading on a curve), and there was still time to […]
Priceless Mom Moments and a Guest Post. Check it Out!
So you know those days you roll out of bed and head off to work, anticipating a good, but uneventful day, quietly tending to your weekday To-Do list…when BAM, you get an email that puts a smile on your face and immediately puts your creative juices into overdrive? I recently had one of those days. […]
“Motherhood for Dummies.” Where Was THAT Book in 1989?
When I was 33, I had a baby. I also had no clue. Backing up a few weeks, I really, really wanted a baby. We tried for months (boxers instead of briefs, no hot tubs, counting ovulation cycles, and learning to sleep on my back with my legs in the air to keep the little […]
The Story of the $5000 Bottle of Wine
Kenny and I live in a small Oregon town that has a delightful wealth of yummy wineries, with new ones cropping up seemingly daily. Since we are both lovers of all things red and winey, we’ve developed a Thursday evening ritual of trying new local tasting rooms after work. This week, we went to a […]
And That’s Why Parents Invented the Stork Story
“Grandma, are you Daddy’s Mom?” I looked down at my 6-year-old grandson’s beautiful eyes staring up at me, his little brow slightly furrowed as he tried to get his family tree sorted out in his mind. “Yes,” I smiled, while silently praying “Dear God, please, don’t let this question go any further.” But God was […]
Mamas in Afghanistan. It Could Work
As summer rolls forward, it seems everyone’s talking about family vacation plans, including plans to send young offspring off to theme parks, famous campgrounds, and animated wonderlands with grandparents, giving moms and dads much-needed breaks to be adult couples instead of parents for 2 blissful weeks out of the year. When Jake was 6, we […]
She’s Having My Baby
Holy crap. Apparently there’s a woman who just gave birth to her 15th surrogate baby. SERIOUSLY?? During my seemingly 3-year-long pregnancy with Jake, I gained 65 pounds (count ’em… Sixty. Five.) I wasn’t too worried about it at the time, because I assumed I would have a 65-pound baby and fit back into my pre-pregnancy […]
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