I love the beginning of the school year — even though I have no direct involvement anymore. No back-to- school clothes; no school supplies to buy; nothing to do……. except this—re-post one of my favorites: I don’t do back-to school shopping any more—but I still sense the educational expectations and emotions that arise every September. The [...]
Well this is embarrassing. I woke up today and read the somewhat unsympathetic mean spirited post I published last night, moments after I learned that Abby Sunderland had been located alive and well. It’s just not like me to be so snarky. Especially considering I spent much of yesterday in angst about Abby’s safety. This felt familiar. I was wishing I [...]
Continue reading about Uncontrollable Mothering: is it ever smooth sailing?
There’s a lot of finger pointing lately aimed at helicopter parents—guilt served up by a new study indicating their children grow up to be neurotic (there’s a real scientific breakthrough….). The flip side is Free Range parenting, personified by the Manhattan mom attacked as “the Worst Mother in the World” after she let her 9 year old son [...]
Continue reading about Free Range kids—a rough landing for a helicopter parent
…… and not only because this is the Happiest Place on Earth. But also because: ….. I had my daughter to myself for an entire day making her a captive audience for constant boring stories about our past trips to Disneyland. …..which distracted me from thinking about Daniel who at that moment was crossing the [...]
An anthem dedicated to my son Words adapted by Evita Pollack with apologies to Andrew Lloyd Webber Those who aren’t parents might think it strange. When I try to explain how I feel After all of this time, after all that you’ve become. You should believe this… After all I am still the same Mom [...]
Just. In. Case. The 3 words most used by Jewish mothers. The 3 words their kids least want to hear. Daniel was packing up for his semester abroad. According to airline regulations, his suitcase can’t weigh over 50 pounds—which forces him to weigh priorities. So he makes a colossal mistake and asks me if [...]
I don’t mean recent blog-less days when I was disconnected from everyone—and everything—online. And I don’t mean Daniel’s trip to Buenos Aires (3 days down, 5 months to go…..not that I’m counting.) My separation issues go way deeper…and way back. Back to the beginning…..when parenting experts inform you that separation anxiety is a big issue [...]
No cell phone. No email. No credit card. No itinerary. That’s how I went to Europe with a couple girlfriends the summer I was 19. I had a suitcase, a Eurail pass, and a vague idea of where we were going. The plans changed daily; Air France lost my suitcase; at least I hung onto [...]
…..is something I haven’t mentioned….maybe because I don’t really want to think about it. It’s one of those times when you get what you wish for. I’ve always encouraged my kids to experience everything they could. Who knew they would take me seriously? Daniel’s home for a week—-but it’s just a pit stop before a [...]
For the children most of us know, life is easy—- at least compared to the life of a Haitian orphan or Sudanese refugee. Still, an easy life doesn’t mean an escape from emotional pain. Stuff happens, usually things parents never sign up for. That’s what happened to a young mother whose husband is going through [...]
