It’s a hard pill to swallow, but my mommy super powers, the tools I’ve used to banish monsters under the bed, thwart toddlers before they painted their bedrooms with diaper cream, or prevent a child’s head from being used as a torpedo, are fading into nonexistence now that my kids are 19, 16, and 12. True, there was the time my powers didn’t alert me that my … [Read more...]
Counting Down the Top Three Posts of 2017 with Kathy and the Dishwasher: The Number One Post of 2017
Happy New Year! As we say goodbye to 2017, I want to thank you for all your support this year and for having some fun with the Dishwasher and me as we counted down the top three posts from this year. We have now reached our most popular piece of the year. “25 Ways to Annoy Your Teenager” was published on February 26 and was so much fun to write because as the mom of two … [Read more...]
The Year I Almost Ruined Christmas for My Son
When my husband and I became parents 19 years ago, we decided that when it came to Christmas gifts, we would follow the three gift rule. As our family grew with two more kids, this tradition has continued to work for us. I can narrow my search down to a few, special gifts. There’s the occasional emphatic refusal. (No dear, you can’t get a pony.) But whenever possible, we … [Read more...]
My Recipe for How to Enjoy Thanksgiving as a Parent Without (Completely) Losing Your Mind
Thanksgiving is a few days away. Everyone I know is putting the finishing touches on menus for the big holiday feast. Recipes for the perfect turkey, gravy, and pumpkin pie can be found in magazines and on TV talk shows and blogs. But, nowhere have I ever seen a recipe for preparing the most crucial element of a great holiday meal: Your kids. After celebrating 18 years … [Read more...]
Dear Santa: A Mom’s Christmas Wish List
Dear Santa: Hi, I hope this letter finds you and Mrs. Claus in good health. I bet you’re wondering why a middle-aged married woman with two teenagers and a tween would feel compelled to write to you. After all it’s been quite a few years since I even really believed in you. (Sorry about that by the way.) But as I’ve been looking through catalogs and searching … [Read more...]
