As more people are having kids later in life, many find themselves navigating the unchartered waters of parenting without the guidance of their own parents to help light the way. When I lost my adored mother-in-law, Sue, and grandmother-in-law, Shirley, mere months after having my first child, the thought of raising my daughter without them was, well, … More Parenting Under the Influence
Sometimes in life, you just need to stop and ask the universe for directions. That’s what I did, going into my recent trip to Hawaii with my husband and daughter. After years devoted to (and struggling with) two kids’ books near and dear to my heart, I left it up to vacation to provide some meditation … More Directions
Regardless of your political preferences, this is a refreshingly honest talk on grief (see video below) from Joe Biden to military families in mourning. For anyone coping with a loss, I hope it will bring you some peace during this reflective time of year. “There will come a day, I promise you, when the thought of … More Hope and Hard Truths
Lately, many people have asked me: So… what about that kids’ book you were going to write? Well, it’s already written. In fact, several are in the works, but two are in the final polishing stages:
What has the year 2013 meant to you? For me, it’s been a year of trial and error, acceptance and surprises, joy and friendship. For my daughter, who turned three, it’s been a flagship year, too. She began to experiment with being her own person, complete with her own goals and opinions. (Oh, the opinions!) … More 2013: An Ode to Friendship
As many of you know, this blog began because of Sue. I needed a positive way to cope with grief, new motherhood, and the task of teaching my child about the amazing grandmother she’d never know. My hope was to help other parents as well. Szaba was five months old when Sue passed, so for several years, that … More The Hard Part Begins
I heard a song on the radio the other day and remembered singing it to Szaba during the wee morning hours when she was a baby. Now my “baby” is three, and though I’m not particularly a Bruno Mars fan, I still take this song’s message to heart. It’s up to me to keep Szaba believing she’s nothing … More Birthday Song
You’d think that the hardest time after losing someone would be the anniversary of the person’s death. Instead, it’s often a day of happiness and dreams fulfilled, a time when you feel the deceased should be there to witness something you know would’ve been so important to them. For me, it’s remembering my mother-in-law on … More The Missing Guest
In honor of Mother’s Day, here are five ladies who taught me about the mother I want to be. Who are your five? Or for the guys, what mom figures most influenced to you?
As a progressive, free-thinking mom with a daughter, I’m always looking for girls’ toys beyond the traditional options, like Barbie and Disney princesses. Not that there’s anything wrong with those (with some exceptions), but why limit burgeoning imaginations to such a small field of options? Research shows we shouldn’t. Same holds true for boys. That’s why I’m thrilled … More Top 3: New Toys for Girls
My Castle Heart Publications 