It was August before his senior year, with football practice in full swing. But his position in the high school hierarchy did not reflect his adulthood. Even though I thought my hardest parenting was behind me, my... >>MORE
Whether you are a new mom or a veteran of diapers, feedings,
whys, tantrums and hugs, this is the space for writers and readers to share experiences, lessons and laughs.
"No.” That has been my answer to most requests lately. In fact, when my children ask to do even mundane things, I often find myself saying “No” before really considering the best answer. “No, you can’t do the dishes.” “No, you... >>MORE
As new parents, we thought we could do everything we used to do pre-kids. And when they’re itty bitty, it’s not so hard – just strap them in the front-carrier and you’re off.
Having just started my summer vacation, I started thinking about all the kids out there who are also out of summer school and finally getting a break. Not every kid has had the whole summer off, but most... >>MORE
I love the library. Always have. When I was little, my mom took my sister and me to story time. Dad helped us check out books and research school projects.
Now that I have two little guys of my own,... >>MORE
I spent my evening at the pool last night, only I was not able to go swimming. I was working. I volunteered to help run the clerk of course at this year’s All-City Swim meet held at Shorewood Swimming pool for the next three days. Last year about two dozen parents... >>MORE
I have wanted my youngest daughter to have a phone for a while now. It gets tiring calling her friends when I want to contact her. She has claimed not to really need a phone because so many of her friends have them, so she can just borrow one when she wants to make a call. I... >>MORE
Last week I looked at my calendar with disgust when I could not find one block of time to take my daughters to see the new Harry Potter movie. I wanted it to be a family event and while perusing the calendar I could not find one time that everyone in my family to could go... >>MORE
True confessions: I made a little girl cry last week. The child I distressed wasn’t my own. In fact, this little girl and I barely know each other, nor do I know her mother. But I did make this sweet child cry. Because I didn’t R.S.V.P. to her birthday... >>MORE
My daughter’s cat, Xerxes, died this weekend. He was a wonderful cat who loved my daughter best in our family. He slept with her at night and looked for her when she was away. Dealing with death is a part of life that we as parents have to share with our... >>MORE
Most of us adults are familiar with the phrase,”Take time to smell the roses.” For kids the phrase should be, “Take time to look under rocks.” And the bigger the rock the better. Because beneath every rock, there are loads of--drumroll, please --... >>MORE
About eight years ago the mother of my daughter’s best friend’s invited my family to join hers for lunch on the fourth of July. Knowing it would be more fun than staying home, we accepted readily. My large fruit cookie decorated like a flag was a hit and we were invited back... >>MORE
Eighteen years ago this summer I sat at my mother’s house with a baby in my arms wondering how I would do my life. How was I supposed to be a mother and find a calling in life aside from mothering? It seemed to me that being a mother was overwhelming... >>MORE
My youngest daughter had an appointment for which I needed to leave work a little early. When I asked my boss about it, his response was friendly, but interesting. “Don’t you have another driver in your family that can take her?” I knew he was referring... >>MORE
To work or not to work: That is a question some of us parents struggle with on more than one level. During this season of our family life, I am not working outside the home. Like many families, our finances are tight. Our retirement accounts are thin. Our cars... >>MORE
I have three daughters aged 13 to 18. I would describe them as very healthy, active girls, but all three told me this morning that they wanted to lose weight.
Swimsuit season does that to most women in the... >>MORE
As a kid I remember listening to Alice Cooper’s "School’s Out" at the end of the school year. When the childhood anthem came on the radio, we would jump up and down and scream, “School’s out for summer, school’s out forever!” Now... >>MORE
When a notice came from April’s school that lice had been found among her classmates, I did what every mom does. I sent my fingers walking through April’s hair, desperately hoping I wouldn’t find any squirming critters. Finding nothing but a little... >>MORE
My husband grew up an only child in a small town, where large families could form baseball teams. Not wanting to repeat his lonely “only” experience, we agreed early in our marriage that we would have more than one child. So through the miracle of adoption, we... >>MORE
My daughter started running the Race for the Cure three years ago when a teammate on her soccer team lost her mother to breast cancer. Running the race was a way the girls on her soccer team could... >>MORE
When my eldest daughter was in first grade, she wanted to be on a swim team. At the time we were living in Eagle Heights, and the closest pool was the Shorewood Swimming Pool. I joined the pool for her... >>MORE
The UW-Madison Continuing Studies Gender Studies Project is sponsoring their fourth annual Boys & Girls at Risk: The Emerging Science of Gender Differences Conference on June 16 & 17, 2009, at the Madison Marriott West, Middleton WI (... >>MORE
For 26 plus years, my husband Dave and I had kids coming and going from our home. Anyone was welcome. I don’t think I ever said no to a sleepover or to an extra face at the dinner table. I love to be surrounded by young people. But the day comes for most parents... >>MORE
For many moms, prom is an exciting time to see our kids all dressed up, maybe for the first time in years. Every school has traditions associated with prom night. Kids at JMM often will gather at someone’s home for a photo session that parents are often invited to take part... >>MORE
This month’s issue of O, The Oprah Magazine includes several must-read articles for mothers of teen daughters. “She Said, She Said: The O/Seventeen Sex Survey” (pp. 181-191, 220-223), an essay by Liz Brod, yields particularly useful research-based insights and works... >>MORE
Today at Memorial High School a student put on an “Ideas Festival” with the help of her teacher and friends. This student wanted to address apathy by looking at suffering and genocide in Africa. We watched the film “Rwanda Alive” and listened to a... >>MORE
I love working with teens. I started volunteering with middle school aged kids right out of high school. By the time I got my fantasy job of teaching art to sixth, seventh, and eighth graders, I had three young daughters at home. I remember thinking how I could not wait... >>MORE
