In my marketing days, I was taught to present the benefits of the product, service, or idea I represented. It may be effective in the short-term to utilize scare tactics, but for the sake of long-term success, it’s important to address genuine needs with real solutions. And you’d be wise to explain why and how […]
Four-Minute Mom
My firstborn has called several times since college started, when he chooses, and just to chat. I never know when his number will pop up on my cell, but it’s every few weeks or so, and always a pleasure. As for my younger, it’s been a different story. I told myself there would be no […]
Hard Lessons
The shore line is jagged and the water level lower than I expect. The boat, with no visible damage to my untrained eye, is now docked nearby. The kids are quieter than normal, all six of them, piping up with an occasional joke, but their voices and body language, clearly subdued. The lake is very […]
10 Tips On Teens (And Lessons Learned)
He’s grunting in response to my questions, and staring straight ahead. Here we are again, I tell myself. Me, at the wheel. Him, in the passenger seat. Adult annoyance meets adolescent angst, yields one part migraine, two parts morning misery. And where is my kid? The one I raised? I shouldn’t complain. Really. Relatively speaking, […]
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 […]
Women and Money. Are We THERE Yet?
Women don’t care about money like men. True or false?
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 […]
Parent Teacher Association
Summer is here and classes are over! Well, for most of us that is. We’ve got school-aged kids revving up for camp or neighborhood play, vacations in the works, and likely a list of activities awaiting. Then again, we may have teenagers milling about – snatching up the car keys, leaving a trail of dirty […]
Why the Early Bird Doesn’t Always Get the Worm
“Out of bed now,” I say, though he isn’t on the bed. As usual. He’s on the couch, where he works on the computer, where he interacts with friends on Facebook, where he watches television then studies a few hours more, where eventually – he sleeps. I take in the beauty of him as he […]
The College Countdown
This past weekend, my morning reading brought me to a blog post on the New York Times, written by a high school senior, Michael Campbell, about his college search process. As he counts down to receiving decision letters, everywhere he goes he is asked “Where are you going to college?” And of course, it’s too […]