This morning, I read the most beautiful Mother's Day article written by Melanie Durfee Picket. She recently posed two questions on her Facebook: "What is the best part of being a mother? And what is the hardest part?" Melanie got a flood of touching, awing and eye-opening responses, which she shares in her post. Read them, and share your own with me in the comments below. Melanie also spells out very eloquently what it means to be a mother. But what moved me most, which she's graciously allowed me to share here, was her shout-out to the whole motley crew of us moms. She dedicates her … [Read more...]
Give Your Kids an Edge: Instill a Problem-Solving Mindset
I see so many parents worrying already about their grade-school-aged children's futures. DH and I are guilty of it too. While some folks have to worry about where their child's next meal will come from or whether their child will survive an illness, overcome an impediment or outgrow a serious character flaw, others have the luxury to worry about whether their child will choose and pursue "the right" career, one that's both successful and fulfilling, someday. While no one can predict the future or control all their future life circumstances, there is something we can do today to give our kids … [Read more...]
A Mother’s Love-Hate Relationship…With Cooking
When I was little, I'd ask my mom if I could help her "cook", but as dicing or julienning vegetables was deemed too dangerous, I was demoted to Chief Rice-and-Produce-Washer. (Hated it. Booooring.) When I hit the double-digits in years, I was sometimes allowed to sauté or stir-fry (with repeated warnings, of course, to watch my wrists over the hot pan edges, which warnings, it seems, were not as effective as accidentally doing it once). When I was a teen and Mom would actually invite me into the kitchen to watch, help and learn, I couldn't care less. So I didn't pay any attention to what I was … [Read more...]
Smart Girls, Brave Girls Win.
"Listen up, baby girl. Pretty girls have fun but smart girls have everything. So be smart. Ok?" These priceless words of wisdom were imparted to my 7-year-old by two "smart, sassy and a little smart @ss-y" twenty-something “nieces” whom I’ve watched grow since birth. Their mum, my cousin-in-law and 15 years my senior, was the older sister I never had -- my confidante and adviser. I, in turn, aimed to be "the cool aunt" and confidante to them, chaperoning their birthday parties, kidnapping them for outings to the beach or movies, and when they grew older, hearing them out on topics that … [Read more...]
Confessions of a “Spirited” Mom, Vol. 1 of 1,000
Mommy Dreams and Dreamy Mommy: When I was a little girl, I loved playing with dolls and Barbies, playing make-believe, playing family. And I assure you, any time I played the “Mommy” then, I was happy mommy, sweet mommy, educational mommy, fun mommy or pretty mommy. I was never mad mommy, scary mommy, ugly bloated and PMS’ing mommy, or overworked and stressed out mommy. Then again, my pretend/dolly babies and kids were super low-maintenance. They were quiet, well-behaved, obedient little sponges. They complied the first time I asked them to do something. They slept through the night from … [Read more...]