Kindness and civility. Has anyone ever used those two terms to describe their children’s relationship with each other? I doubt it. And if they did, it would be the Chardonnay talking. It doesn’t matter how much I try to instill the importance of being kind to the boys, apparently, it does not begin at home. [...]
I’m a feline evangelist. I was a little late to the party, but now that I’m here, I think everyone should love cats as I do. Since I’ve welcomed cats into my life, I’m at a complete loss as to how I survived prior to kitties. Truly, my life was not nearly as full as [...]
Thanksgiving is almost upon us. It is a time to give thanks, gather friends and family together, watch football and, of course, eat oneself into a turkey coma. Mike and I have been hosting Turkey Day since way before we got married and it’s always been a blast. We take in all the orphans – [...]
I am a dude. Not a dude in the surfer sense or as a Big Lebowski reference. Specifically, a city-dweller, especially one vacationing on a ranch in the western United States (credit: dictionary.com). This is why I was fortunate enough to make Wyoming my home lo these 25 years ago. The HF Bar Ranch in Saddlestring, [...]
Parenting a teenager is not for weenies. Those of you who have undertaken it know the struggle is real. Those of you who have only been teens should remember the awkwardness, the endless moments of humiliation, the fear of being noticed, the fear of being unnoticed. It's just brutal. The surging hormones mean teens are [...]
I love March. It means so many things. Daffodils (my all-time fave flower) from the American Cancer Society. The chance that spring (my all-time fave season) might actually arrive. March Madness, which pretty much annually features the Kansas Jayhawks (my all-time fave team). In addition and most importantly, it’s the month of my birthday! [...]
I’m back! Four pounds lighter, perhaps a few inches smaller and feeling very pleased with self for surviving the Whole30. Thanks for the votes of confidence! Today, I’m using my column for something other than what’s become a bit of my personal blog post. Instead, I’m going to share both my disappointment and my hope. [...]
It’s the Christmas season! Yippee! You know how I know this? Not because the decorations are up in stores. That happened in September. And not because the snow finally started flying, although that did help. Nope, the Christmas music has started on the radio stations. At least the radio has the decency to wait until [...]
I am the parent of two boys, ages 11 and 14. I came to the parenting gig late so I had plenty of time to watch my friends raise their children. I also had plenty of time to be incredibly judgmental about what I saw as their mistakes and shortcomings. In my head I was [...]
I just saw a very funny commercial. Almost as funny as the one from Geico with the mom calling the James Bond-like son during a high pressure situation and wanting to talk to him about the squirrel infestation at the parental home. I want to say right up front that I would never do something [...]
