I’m not sure what is happening in everyone else’s backyard, but I’m tripping over a daily carpet of chipmunks. They have the audacity to take one bite out of a piece of fruit and then throw the rest at my feet like petulant children. Yes, I understand those sweet little striped-tailed ...

It is that time of year when my social media is filled with Back to School photos. Friends are sending their children off to college for the first time or preparing for their child’s return to campus. They are shopping for their elementary, junior high, or high school students’ supply list, ...

Every person in my family has gotten some sort of traffic violation. I don’t think that makes us bad drivers in case you feel the need to clear a path when you see one of us coming. Just because we’ve been in accidents doesn’t mean we were always at fault. (I was once in San Francisco ...

I’ve always joked about how well prepared I hope my children will be when I kick them out of the nest. (Currently, the nest eviction time feels like it will be never. Well played, COVID-19.) I want them to make fixable mistakes and be able to learn from them while still in our house. I want. ...

In my opinion, as I live through my first pandemic, two vastly different life philosophies are being demonstrated. It is not a matter of the “Haves” and “Have Nots.” It is a matter of the “Every person for themselves” versus “How can I help?” I hope I fall into the realm of ...

I recently had a conversation with an official after I requested hand sanitizer while volunteering at an event. The official’s response was everyone is xenophobic. I disagreed. Here is the backstory. I was masked as requested and taking precautions, but at all the previous events giant ...

I heard a lot about my children’s potential by well-meaning people. I need you to understand when someone is trying to help my struggling child, I am willing to listen to anything. At one point, in my child’s younger days, I would have even tried an exorcism. It was never recommended. The ...

It seems I may have to start each column with addressing questions from my last one. Last week I said I had called people names in the past, specifically my children. Perfect parents don’t have to go down this rabbit hole. To set the record straight, I’m not a fan of calling people “swear ...

I find I can dig in deep when I'm trying to prove a point to my children. I can hold on to what I believe to be true (from stupid things like a coaster prevents water rings on a table to more serious infractions like name-calling is never a good option.) I've been guilty of both and other ...

There are quite a few phone calls I don't want to ever get. One is regarding my children and car accidents. The other ones are regarding any type of health issue. Recently my child had been sent home from work because someone had tested positive for COVID. Now you can skip right to the bottom ...

I know I’m speaking to the choir and you are all polite to the person who has sat you at your table, mixed your drink, brought you a beverage, taken your order, filled your water glass, cleaned up your table, and prepared your meal. It doesn’t even cover the people behind the scene you ...

Listen, I like my avocado toast just like the next overprivileged person. I could eat an avocado a day. If there was a reason for me to move to a warmer climate, it would be to have avocado trees and perhaps mangos, but mostly avocados. Though I do buy local food and grow a few ...

In the world of “gotcha” moments, I find it difficult to believe that people are still just passing along information based on a social media headline. We really need to dig deep. Please don’t use this as an opportunity to accuse the person to your left or right of that behavior. We’ve ...

With riots and protests against the deaths/kill-ings of numerous black Americans, I feel compelled to join the voices of common people from around the world. My family may not be multiracial, but I am a mother. I don’t need to be exactly like someone to be able to find common ground with ...

I was driving to an appointment with my family, and we had to make a few scheduled stops. I saw many people not wearing masks. (Now keep in mind, people do not need to wear masks while practicing social distancing. I know you all know, but I digress.) The gas station even had a sign on its ...

Some people just swear. They don’t think much about it. If I were to stereotype I’d say that is every British person I’ve ever worked with. The difference is in the delivery. I don’t care if people curse, I just don’t like the name-calling that can be attached to it. Cue in my ...

I feel like there is a lot of judgment about people’s right to disappointment. Perhaps I’m incorrect. It’s been known to happen, just ask my children. I don’t have to understand everyone’s emotions, especially the ones swirling around my own house. I can sympathize, even empathize ...

Just to let you know any ramblings occurring throughout this column are generally applied to me. Perhaps something may resonate with you and yours, but in no way are my written thoughts directed at one person. I have been called every name in the book and sometimes by my own child. This ...

A widely quoted poem “The Road Not Taken," by Robert Frost, has been used in inspirational posters, taglines and commercials. The poem is usually thought to be about taking risks and pushing boundaries. Some people think the poem reflects on the traveler taking the undiscovered path rather ...

Recently we had an online reunion with my husband’s family. Our niece is supposed to get married on Halloween. (Don’t even get me started on how excited I am that she chose that date.) We don’t see my husband’s siblings frequently and now the children are older and spread across the ...