I recently went hiking with friends, and while they continued to the summit, I stayed on the false top to pick blueberries. We all have our own goals. While I maneuvered around the fragile alpine growth, I could hear a large group of hikers walking along the tree line. I nestled among the ...

I was recently speaking to a friend whose middle child was going to get engaged over the weekend. She will receive a proposal, but whether she accepts could be the topic of another discussion. There were numerous people around the table, each sharing their engagement moments. Growing up, I ...

Both of the children called me bro, and I thought my head was going to explode. They have tossed out various non-Mom names in my direction over the years. Most of the time, those names were anger-related and not able to be addressed in a family column. Let your imagination go wild. I ...

Numerous warnings are being issued now we are in tick season. Sure, right off the heels of black-fly season, let’s toss another plague into the mix. Unfortunately, ticks can actually spread disease anytime the weather is above freezing. It isn’t as common, so let’s focus more on keeping ...

Let’s be clear: I like animals. I’m just allergic to cats, so my children’s love of felines has had to be supplemented with cat-sitting gigs and visiting with pets; I can’t have them at my house. As amusing as cats can be, the allergic reaction isn’t worth it to me. Recently, ...

It’s graduation season and we have been making the rounds honoring parents and students for such a monumental achievement. It can be an exciting and frightening time. New adventures are starting, and we hope our children are ready. Since I am not a perfect parent, I am here to share my ...