A couple of months ago, my family was at another couple's house for dinner. While my friend and I talking and sipped our beers, our husbands and children disappeared to the basement. They emerged hours later, with bleary eyes and smiles across their faces. My daughter exclaimed, "Mom! We just played the best game! Dad says we're going to go buy it tomorrow!" And, we did. When I was a kid, my family would gather together and play Monopoly for hours, work on jigsaw puzzles, or go outside for a rousing game of kickball. We played cards, backgammon and checkers.... Continue reading

I did something awful. I read my daughter's diary. I thought I would find valuable information about the thoughts in her 11 year old head. I thought I would find out what she and her friends are up to. I know it was wrong to read her personal journal, but in today's world, I can't help but feel that parents need all the help we can get to keep our children safe. I would do it again if I thought I would learn something that would help me protect her. Although there was a little bit of information about her... Continue reading