Glass Castle or Guarded Fortress?

I’m finally reading The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. (I know. It’s old. But I had little kids for a lot of years, and didn’t get to read much.) It’s riveting. I can’t put it down. It has everything that makes a good read: a glimpse into another’s world, suspense,...
So, You Can’t Tape Your Child’s Mouth Shut

So, You Can’t Tape Your Child’s Mouth Shut

We moved recently, relocating from one of the most forward thinking places on the planet to a small town. No more highways. Very little crime. Good people. But this is no city! Not long after we arrived, one of my boys called another “Homo!” And no, it wasn’t a “Dude,...

Why I don’t ‘Go away!’

Sometimes it feels like my son is deliberately trying to push me over into that parenting place where my thinking stops and feelings rule. Where finally, after a full day of whining and sibling squabbles and talking back, I lose sight of my boy’s goodness and say...
How tears can bring you and your boy closer.

How tears can bring you and your boy closer.

I got an email the other day from an editor at the Huffington Post, asking if I would be willing to write up a short thank you note to my dad to contribute to a Father’s Day piece she was putting together. 150 words max. Seemed easy enough to write a thank you, but I...
Happy Father’s Day – wherever you are…

Happy Father’s Day – wherever you are…

Dear Dad, It’s coming up on your birthday. And you’re not here to celebrate. First time in my life. Even in the years (most of them) when we were apart, I knew you were out there – somewhere on the globe, feet firmly planted on the ground. I had a dad.I know...