When she’s almost seventeen she’ll come downstairs in her pajamas, hair in a messy bun, fresh pillow marks on her cheek, and you’ll swear you’ve never beheld a more dazzling creature in your entire life. When she’s almost seventeen she’ll want to share her love for reptiles with others, because she’s finally realized when you … Continue reading When She’s Almost Seventeen

We just dropped our son off at college, and on the long car ride home it occurred to me that he’s beginning his sophomore year, and I have no idea how his first year went. I do know he adjusted well to his new environment hundreds of miles away from home. He made some good … Continue reading My Son Is In College And I’m Learning The Most Important Grades Of His Life Were On His Kindergarten Report Card

I’m experiencing an unsettling sort of calm. Could it be the calm before the storm? I mean, this time last year I was a frenzy of anxious activity. Lists of things to purchase were scrawled on a rainbow hue of sticky notes that covered every surface of my kitchen. A teetering pile of plastic IKEA bags … Continue reading Sending Off A College Sophomore: It’s A Whole Different Ball Game

I bought my son a waffle maker. It dawned on me that whenever we stay in hotels my son always looks forward to the breakfast buffet. He happily fills his plate with heaping portions of eggs, potatoes, fruit and pastries. He relishes going back for seconds and even thirds. But he especially loves making his … Continue reading I Bought My Son A Waffle Maker…And Now I Hope He’ll Never Leave Me

Your teen finally decided on the 6-piece twin XL coordinated bedding set in Blue Ombré and is outfitted with enough mini string lights to illuminate the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. You’ve purchased so many packs of Command adhesive strips you may be credited with the company’s exceptional earnings growth this quarter. One by one, all … Continue reading Saying Goodbye: The Summer Send-Off

My son fell off his boosted board today. (A boosted board is an electric skateboard that reaches speeds of around 20 mph). I promise I won’t share any pictures of his wounds. Suffice it to say he is a bloody mess. When he showed me what had happened I immediately went into “mender mode,” just … Continue reading He Takes My Breath Away

There’s a boy somewhere under those covers. Or should I say a man? My son home for the summer, asleep in his childhood bed, having recently completed his freshman year of college. This time last year I was reading all the articles cautioning that we only have 18 summers with our children. 18 summers to … Continue reading Our Bonus Summer

So this photo. My imperfect version of an inversion. A few degrees shy of the intended 90. Not quite right. But perfect to me. Because for so long this body was too weak to stand at the stove and make a meal, too wracked with pain to go to the supermarket, too overcome with fatigue … Continue reading Imperfect Inversion

In just a few days I’ll be attending my 25th college reunion. (I’m shaking my head in disbelief as I write that.) I love everything about reunion. Seeing old friends, celebrating time-honored traditions, and revisiting the buildings and classrooms that were so much a part of those formative years. But the highlight of the entire … Continue reading My 25th College Reunion

My son likes to talk. A lot. As a little boy he would talk to us for hours about his Legos and his Matchbox cars. As he grew older his interests changed, but his loquaciousness never diminished. I have been lectured on the specs of the newest iPhone, instructed on how to create viral YouTube … Continue reading Four Ways To Parent Your Introverted Teen That Won’t Make Them Cringe