Relationships
Proud Mama
This weekend, Feb. 18, to be exact, will be two years since my bilateral mastectomy. Two years I might not have had. Two years in which so much has happened: some bad, some sad, some downright ugly. But I don’t want to go there. I’d rather focus on the amazing things I’ve been a part [...]
Panks: Professional Aunt, no kids
For Jennifer Emmert, it’s the best of both worlds. Emmert loves kids and spends tons of time with her six nieces and nephews, from outdoor activities to sleepovers at her place. The 30-year-old is engaged to be married, but she’s perfectly happy living up to the name of one of her favorite books: “Childless and [...]
Think carefully before dating your ex
Q: My ex has just asked me out for Valentine’s Day. No one else has asked so I’m thinking about going. I’m just not sure what to say to the kids – “Mommy is going out with Daddy?” What’s good ex-etiquette? A: Good ex-etiquette is to say nothing to the kids about who you are [...]
Ex-etiquette: No badmouthing
Q: Huge dilemma! Yesterday morning I was having a conversation with my sister, and my 11-year-old stepdaughter overheard the conversation, about which she then proceeded to tell her mother. One of the things I said was that her mother was selfish and projecting her feelings about their dad onto them – and that’s not fair, [...]
Doctor or princess?
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” Ask an average group of 10- to 12-year-olds in theUnited States, and more than one in four will say famous athlete or singer/actor. Pose the same question to their counterparts in the developing world and professions requiring a college education, like teaching and medicine, top [...]
Dad, father and daddy: Ties that last a lifetime
Take a few tips from me, an expert on all things “dad, father and daddy.” I have been through it all, with six kids ranging in age from 6 months to 25; I have learned the ins and outs of bonding with children at each stage in their development including infancy, toddlers, tweens, teens and [...]
Hey Dads, parental guidance suggested
A father was holding his little girl’s hand at a busy intersection where strip malls have multiple ins and outs on every corner and left turn arrows perform a precision-timed choreography. The little girl was bundled in pink snow pants and a pink jacket with her hood pulled tight. The only part of little girl [...]
The Mom Is The Message
Moms are sneaky. Sure, we have a reputation for being incessant nags, but we do some of our best work in secret. We put applesauce in the brownies to make them healthier; carrots in the cake; cauliflower in the mashed potatoes; yogurt in the smoothie. Kids never know what we will be up to next. [...]
Ex etiquette
Q: My boyfriend of two years has three great kids. We spend a lot of time doing things with his family. The ex also spends a lot time with them (sometimes at the same time we are there). I feel like she has no boundaries with me or anyone else. She walks right into our [...]
Coping with Christmas without children
It is the first work day after Christmas. Things should start to get back to normal now – and I’m glad. Don’t get me wrong. I loved all of my presents. I loved the rich food and conversation of family and friends. I loved listening to my favorite radio station as it transitioned to Christmas [...]
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