The mini cheese grater is missing. Midlife memory? Or something else? It’s been missing for a week now and it’s driving my husband and me crazy. This cheese grater was not kept in the kitchen. It was the cutest little green MINI grater that’s used for things like garlic and spices. Or for grating...
Continue readingSummer camp can be bittersweet when it’s your kid’s last year
Camp is part of our summer tradition. Or at least it has meant that for the past 10 years. So the fact that I got to go to camp last weekend felt like going home. I also got to see my youngest son, now 16 years old, as the male lead in the camp...
Continue readingFacebook greetings and and their surprising positive effect on your birthday
I had 154 Facebook greetings on my 52nd birthday. I have never had this many friends in my life, let alone wish me a happy birthday. Ok, ok. We all know they aren’t all the same “type” of friend. They all haven’t gone to Knapp Elementary School. They didn’t take tap lessons with me...
Continue readingThe long-term job—a blessing and a curse
Who knew that my long-term job could be both a blessing and a curse? I never even imagined I would be the type to have a long-term job. Seriously. It didn’t seem like something that would have my name on it. I landed my first professional job in 1989. I remember it well. I...
Continue readingTurning 50? Lots of ways to leave your 40s
Turning 50 is so interesting. On just about every level. I hate the idea of a “bucket list when you turn 50.” Really, it turns me off. It’s not that I don’t want to embrace the fact that I’m growing older. I just don’t like the idea of talking about things I really want...
Continue readingUniversity and kids: Is the glass half empty or half full when they leave the nest?
I remember the day I left for university like it was yesterday. I was so excited to start the next phase of my life in university. I wasn’t thinking at all about my mom’s empty nest. I was a fresh 18 years old and was off to West Chester University in Pennsylvania. I couldn’t...
Continue readingAfraid to leave your “good” job because of golden handcuffs?
My job situation felt like golden-handcuffs. When someone referred to our work situation as “golden handcuffs,” I totally understood what she meant. My job was too good to leave. When I was 18, I had a summer job at a bank. My job was to verify income claims of credit card applicants. Because of...
Continue readingWhen the solution to the problem means you escape
Have you heard about these escape rooms? It’s a cool new way to have some good, clean fun with teenagers. Well, I hadn’t heard of them but my kids sure did. They are actually called “escape rooms”. Essentially, they are games where real people go into a real room and try to get out...
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