One of my most treasured possessions is my Bluebird of Happiness given to me by my mother in law as a wedding gift. I detested this gift as soon as I opened it for two reasons. One, I don’t like knickknacks. Two, I hate birds. They’re dirty, they poop everywhere, and they have scary, beady…
T-6 days until I drop daughter number three off at West Point. I keep looking at her when she thinks I’m not looking trying to memorize her face, the casual way she relaxes on our couch, her infectious laugh as she watches a funny Vine video on her phone. We try not to talk about…
While it’s true we lived in some very cramped Army housing through the years, our four daughters did always have their own beds. They chose, however, most nights to sleep together just like this. I loved listening them giggle and tell stories in the dark each evening before they finally drifted off to sleep. When the…
The breaking point: After years of dealing with a clique of mean girls on and off again, my daughter Bee has finally reached the point of no return. She is a senior in high school and has had the unfortunate experience of being targeted and ostracized by this unpleasant group of girls. Why was my daughter…
One of my favorite quotes about parenting has always been: “Children are preprogrammed for abandonment.” I have no idea where I read this, but I have always tried to keep this in the forefront of my mind while raising my four daughters. Someday they are going to leave. Things will change. The idyllic, carefree days…
“Grown don’t mean nothing to a mother. A child is a child. They get bigger, older, but grown? What’s that suppose to mean? In my heart it don’t mean a thing.” -Toni Morrison, Beloved I will always be my mother’s daughter, her only girl, her gift to watch over and cherish. If I’m happy, my mom’s…
This week’s photos are filed under “Complete Chaos” and they were not easy for a mother to take! Dear United States Military Academy, On July 2, my husband and I will drive up to West Point, NY where we will drop daughter number three off and into your care for the next four years. I…
Today I as I was driving into school I glanced over to the passenger seat and noticed that my daughter Sophie was finishing up her biology homework. Whenever she didn’t know an answer, she just looked it up on the Internet using her phone. Boy, have times changed. In the early 1980’s when I was…
Staring at the blank page before you Open up the dirty window Let the sun illuminate the words That you could not find Reaching for something in the distance So close you can almost taste it Release your inhibitions Feel the rain on your skin No one else can feel it for you Only you…
I’ve always said, never give someone advice unless they ask you at least three times for your opinion. Otherwise, it could end in tears. I’ve learned this the hard way. However, I’m a mother and that means I kind of have to break this rule because I have a lot of advice to offer (really…
greatsnaps, goodtimes and me 