Growing up, there weren't many days that I didn't see my mom putting on makeup. It wasn't just in the mornings before she went to work, but also on days she spent at home doing laundry or cleaning. When guests were coming over in the evening, she'd be in the bathroom until the last minute, still touching up or powdering her nose when they arrived.... Continue Reading →
I'm waiting for the explosion. My boys are playing together, shooting baskets into a little hoop on the back of the door in their room. I can hear them laughing, having fun, high-fiving....then there's some muffled commotion....and here it comes. "OOWW!!" The door flings open, and the youngest boy is chasing his brother down the hall into the living room. He... Continue Reading →
I was 16 when I burst into my mom's office at the school board building, beside myself with confusion and sadness. "I don't know where I belong!" I cried. After bouncing back and forth between Catholic and public high school three times, I still didn't have an answer. It's not that I didn't have friends.... Continue Reading →
On a beautiful fall morning last week, I took my daughter to the zoo. I planned to enjoy the day with only her, away from her two school-aged brothers who demand my attention as soon as they get home. But instead of being focused on her, I was preoccupied by all the other mommies. The younger ones.... Continue Reading →
While raising my kids for the past 12 years, I've been fortunate to be able to work from home. It's part time, and it's not making me rich, but interviewing interesting people and writing blogs for businesses keeps me in tune with the real world -- and challenges me a little more than it does to... Continue Reading →
As I mowed the grass today, I thought about the man who lived on my street when I was about 8 years old. His grass was perfectly manicured - every inch of it the same height and color, the most beautiful color of green there is. He was always telling us kids not to walk... Continue Reading →
If you'd asked me to leave my first son for five days when he was two years old, I would have made you carry me out, and only IF you could hog-tie me first. After all, I was always the one to scoff at the Christmas newsletters from friends boasting tales of their fabulous kid-free vacations, pictures included.... Continue Reading →
Planning a wedding is such an exciting time. Choosing your bridesmaids, your color scheme, where to have your reception - it's all so much fun. And that fiancé of yours...isn't he a catch? You probably get butterflies in your stomach when he kisses you, or as soon as he walks in the door. It would... Continue Reading →
This time of year, my living room's extra messy. There are bats standing up against the wall and gloves on the toy shelf. If you walk without looking on the floor, you might trip over a ball or a cleat. But it doesn't drive me nuts like when Legos or Polly Pockets are strewn everywhere. I actually kind of... Continue Reading →
It's been a long, cold winter, and I'm a lot softer and paler than I was when this season started. So the other day when I looked in the bathroom mirror, I couldn't help but groan at what I saw. "Ugh...I look horrible!" I said out loud. And a little voice that came from a place as high as my waist... Continue Reading →
Who Stole My Bon Bons? 