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Now what? Now what. Now. What? This is the prompt for Just Be Enough's monthly link up and I'm stumped as I look at all the varying ways to say "now what." Rolling them around in my mind, tasting them, trying to see which one fits for where I am... Continue reading

I know I wrote on Monday that I wasn't going to talk about my tween and her tweendom. So this might seem contradictory. Sorry about that. I'm going to strive not to talk about the personal "stuff" a tween (and her beleagured mother) goes through. This? Is too good to... Continue reading

Sometimes the time for a story comes and you're afraid to write it. Sperk asked me to write for Wednesday's Woman a long time ago. And when she reminded me that it was today, I had a bit of a panic attack. See, I can write about moments. I can... Continue reading

Big G recently had a "talk" with Little Iggy about privacy: Big G: Little Iggy, I need to tell mom about what you did last night. It's all about the importance of privacy. Little Iggy: Ok, Big G. Big G: See, when the babysitter's here, I don't want you telling... Continue reading

The alternate title to this post should be, "Just don't do what my family and I did this summer." The end. Oh - need more details? Ok, I'll give you the "skinny" on what not to do in order to be a healthier, fitter (more fit? Someone PLEASE tell me... Continue reading

Ohio's new driving while texting ban recently went into effect. Well, kind of. It's in effect, but you won't feel the effect for 6 months. As in, they're only going to give warnings between now and then. So, between now and March, I need to figure out the following: Does... Continue reading

I'm writing today at Just Be Enough, sharing a crossroad in my life. I've devoted 10 years to extensive volunteerism. Volunteerism that's given me great fulfillment. Volunteerism that's substantially helped more than one organization. But I need more than that right now. And it has me torn up, if I'm... Continue reading

I'm sharing two behavior contracts today to show you a way to simplify house rules, help ensure short term goal reaching and maintain a positive atmosphere at home. Do you ever feel like you're repeating yourself to your kids over and over and over and STILL they don't change their... Continue reading

Some things I love. But I don't talk about them. I can't say they're secret, oh-my-gosh-if-people-find-out-I'll-die-or-be-blackballed-by-my-volunteer-organizations things. But some of them just aren't polite conversation starters. You know? Here goes: Raw brownie mix, The movie Titanic, My dog's wet nose, photo credit Burping, Passing gas (you may remember I can't... Continue reading

I'm inspired by Kir's post today at Just Be Enough, where I also contribute regularly. She talks about hanging onto the last few days of summer and how she keeps summer in her heart all year long. And this week, with both of my kids back in school, I find... Continue reading

I wrote this post 2 years ago, the night before school started. I can't say I feel much different today. Some emotions are timeless. I will admit I've cleaned the post up though. Sometimes when I read my old stuff I think, "Wordy much?" Read on: Both my kids are... Continue reading

This week I'm taking a blogcation to focus on what I've been completely ignoring all month - back to school time. Excuse me . . . (whaaaaaaaaa! Sniff, sniff! Sooooobbbbb!) Ok. I'm back. While I'm gone, enjoy these ecards. I know I do. See you next week! As you may... Continue reading

Are you parents alive? Do you take them for granted? Do you think your kids take you for granted? I think the very nature of the parent/child relationship has the child taking the parent for granted. Even when a child is thankful for what a parent does for them, the... Continue reading

A few months ago I wrote a letter to my 18 year old self and published it with Jamie at Chosen Chaos. In honor of her 1 year anniversary I'm re-publishing it here, to you. What would you say to your 18 year old self? Here's what I said to... Continue reading

I've always wanted to be in a book club. But sadly, the call's never come. And I've never taken the bull by the horns and created my own. Until this summer, when I decided to have a Summer book club with each of my children. Each child and I read... Continue reading

I read Robert Frost's poem, Mending Wall, when I was in the 8th grade. Even then, when I didn't know what it would be like 30 years later to live within mere feet of my neighbors, I identified with the curmudgeonly neighbor who keeps insisting that "good fences make good... Continue reading

I'm back to recipes today, but dammed if I didn't forget to take pictures while making this one. I'm not kidding about the tail end of summer having me by the tail and shaking the shit out of me. Because now we're in the throes of Big G's 14 performances... Continue reading

More than you might think! An iPad, the Olympics, Gabby Douglas and parenting really do have a common thread. iPads On the eve of her iPad acquisition. Big G got her iPad last Friday. You might recall that we told her she could get one if she earned $400 toward... Continue reading

(Written one day last week. I'm better now. Promise. It's important, though, to share some of the hard days. Because every parent alive has days like this, I think. Parenting can be hard as hell.) I sit here, trying to recover from a bad moment with my kids tonight. A... Continue reading

Today I'm bringing you another different kind of clean up your act. A little blogging advice on "clean" blogging. Or "non-clean" blogging, as it may be. And since I'm not at BlogHer this weekend (I'm not the only one. Right? RIGHT?), I thought I'd entertain those of you not at... Continue reading

I've talked before about how much I love Gigi at Kludgy Mom. And it's not just because she named me a blogger to watch. She's so helpful. And witty. And funny. And poignant. And someone I have grown to consider a mentor in my blogging career. I hope to meet... Continue reading