Everything about the woman was foreign territory. Yes, she was polite. Yes, she smiled often. Yet her reserve kept her at a distance, holding everyone at bay. I wondered if it was the age, or the fact that she was married and living the suburban lifestyle with a husband and child. The rest of us […]
Big Bucks For Kids, Statistical Confusion?
I’ve commented previously on the cost of raising a child. At the time I did, the figures I used referenced newly released 2010 data, estimating $222,360 per child, on average (for middle income families), up to age 18. But this morning I took a look at another reference to the same originating document which is […]
Are You Fat?
Are you fat? Oh, I’m not talking about five or ten pounds. I’m not talking about feeling fat – which is another issue altogether. I mean getting on a scale, trying on your clothes, looking in the mirror – and facing it – excess weight for your stature, body type, age and sex. Worse – […]
Kids and Money (Again)
Tiff is probably too strong a term. Misunderstanding would be more accurate, but it was frustrating and upsetting, going around and around – again – with my son. Over money. Over things I can’t afford that I don’t consider a priority, although what he was asking wasn’t unreasonable. These are things his peers have, or […]
That Elusive Work-Life Balance – Dream On?
Work-life balance. Possible or not?
Two Words: Never Assume
Two words of advice, especially if divorcing: Never assume.
Navigating After The Storm
Last evening thunderstorms hit while I was grocery shopping at my local superstore. The lights flickered and went out – several times – and with each, I was plunged into darkness in the middle of a large space. Have I mentioned that I’m a bit claustrophobic? I didn’t panic, but I’d be lying if I […]
Motherhood. Damned If You Do. Damned If You Don’t.
That Mothering Job. Not so simple…
Stand By Your… Dad?
We all know that Arnold Schwarzenegger and John Edwards are dads. Has “Stand by your man” taken a new twist on the political stage, and come to be expressed as stand by your Dad? This recent brief by Julie Moos got me to wondering about adversity, and adult (or teenage) children of political families, who […]
My Teacher Calls Me Sweetheart
I remember his name. I would never say it here. That is a function of appropriate behavior, which I hope I exercise, and I know – he did not. My teacher would call me sweetheart; worse, it was the way he looked at me, and then came too close. The way he touched, or did […]