Some days I’ll never forget. The events are so etched in my memory I can at once be brought back to the exact feelings I experienced. My wedding day and the births of my three children are days that fill me with joy whenever I think of them. Then there are the days that are just unthinkable, such as September 11, 2001. The panic and grief overwhelmed me as I watched the … [Read more...]
A Survival Kit for the Special Needs Parent
As the new school year starts and I watch my three kids get ready to enter grades 12, 8 and 6, I can’t help but think of all of the moms and dads with children entering kindergarten. The kids all are amazing, but some don’t fit the typical mold. Perhaps your child has dyslexia, like our first son has, or they struggle with ADHD, like our youngest son does. You know in your … [Read more...]
What to do When it’s Time for a Career Change
Eighteen years ago I went into my boss’s office, armed with the advice of several articles on how-to-leave-your-job-for-motherhood, and I told him that I would not be coming back to work after I had my baby. Then I did what every article strongly advised me not to do, I broke down and cried. I couldn’t help myself. The tears just streamed down my face despite my best … [Read more...]
The One Market the Wall Street Journal Doesn’t Cover: The Guilt Market
Each day the news is filled with stories about the volatility in the financial markets. But there is one market CNBC and the Wall Street Journal don’t cover: the Guilt Market. Mothers are extremely familiar with this one. It starts the minute the line turns pink on your pregnancy test. Suddenly you feel guilty for the coffee you drank that morning, or the calcium you didn’t … [Read more...]
Dear Children, it’s Negotiation Time
Lately I have started to sound like a drill sergeant in the morning. I bark out commands: “Brush your teeth.” “Pack your lunch.” “For the love of God, haven’t you put your clothes on yet?” “Don’t forget to put deodorant on. You don’t want to be smelly.” I use a loud voice meant to carry over the sounds of music, kids and the TV news. That I use this voice in between trying … [Read more...]
