How to Give Motherly Advice to Your Mom
Enjoy this guest blog from the author’s daughter.
The other day, I texted my mom in a panic after an interview for a winter internship: “If I royally screwed myself in an interview this morning, should I address my faux pas in my thank-you email?” Even though I had spent …
Parenting Eyes Wide Open
My two daughters just left to go back to college after a few short days home for Thanksgiving. With four years having a child in college, I’ve learned that it’s not as difficult saying good-bye after this particular visit, because we know Christmas break is mere days away. In that …
Paranoia Does Not Go With Your Outfit.
When my independent younger daughter left our cozy neighborhood this fall to go to college on a big city campus, I wanted her to take self-defense classes and to agree to a list of promises about keeping herself safe.
The more I heard myself talk, the more I realized I …
Call Your Mom When the Crisis is Over
When my oldest daughter went off to college, I asked my own mother what it was like for her when I left for school. Specifically, I wanted to know what the toughest bumps would be.
My mom didn’t need time to sort through old memories; she replied instantly. She reminded …
Four Things to Send in a College CARE Package
I confess. I have invited myself into my daughter’s dorm room and done her laundry. Don’t judge me. It was an exceptional situation.
Her freshman year, we visited campus to see her in a play, and I could see the stress in her face. She was juggling so much: classes, …
You’re Smart Enough to Not Be Stupid
I remember when I first heard the first part of this adage. It wasn’t from my mom, it was from my first grade teacher who had 34 kids just learning what words would get a laugh. Her goal was simply to head off a few mean insults.
When you’re talking …
Make Time for Makeup, Sometimes.
I wrote #92 to keep my daughter from thumbing her nose at personal hygiene. I didn’t want an act of rebellion or laziness to cost her a job . . . or the love of her life.
One of my favorite young bloggers has a lovely take on this:
Make …
It’s Still Summer
Don’t let
the back-to-school section at Target get you down. The autumnal equinox doesn’t happen until September 22. At 10:29 p.m. to be exact.
Yes, September feels like the new January, and if you have kids, the school year is a tough bell to tune out. But summer is …
Saying Good-Bye at College Drop Off: 3 Sacred Rules
Thank goodness for second chances.
Moving my first daughter into college was a nasty, bumbling mess. It’s an entertaining story that I would love to tell you, but I don’t come off looking very good. Let’s just leave it at that.
I’ve had three years in timeout to …
Does She Know the Sock Monster Will Follow Her?
I’m sorry to have to tell you this. You can’t follow your daughter to college, but you don’t know who or what else might be.
That sounds ominous, I know. The world is full of scary things. But we can only take on the ones we know about. The sock …