Blogs

One of the things that struck me during my many years as a preschool administrator was the willingness of parents to share their failed attempts at parenting. They were not afraid to relate stories about things they had tried and abandoned in their search for what would work best. We …

When This Mama blogger April Flores had a bad day, she leaned on her wife, Jen Simmons, for support. The two compare notes on the day and the dynamics of parenting. April: I felt helpless and it was only 10:30 a.m. Danny kept crying and screaming during Tiempo Con Mis …

“Mom, what was the most useful class you took in high school?” “Keyboarding,” I say, without missing a beat. “I didn’t know you played the piano?!” Oy. If there was a perfect moment for a face palm, this would be it. I clarify by explaining how old people used typewriters …

On the endless checklist of things to do before my daughter Leeannah left for college last month was to have her permanent retainer taken out and replaced with a removable one. Not exactly the most memorable or exciting of tasks, but one that had to be done. We made the …

One of the worst things a parent can say is that they have to babysit their kids. They are YOUR kids, so there is no babysitting. It’s called spending time with your own children. Mostly, I hear this from mothers, who say their husbands call it “babysitting.” If they really …

I think my wife and I are on the same page about most aspects of raising our daughter, but there is one philosophical schism that occasionally causes trouble. I think of it as the great “That’s Not a Toy” debate. My wife dislikes that phrase, believing that the toddler should …

As I followed the violence in Charlottesville this weekend, I kept thinking about the parents who are sending their kids to University of Virginia in a few short days—orientation for new students is Aug. 19 and classes start three days later. What must they be thinking? I considered their fear …

I’m at the point where I have to run to keep up with my two-year-old charges, Danny and Lucas.  Lucas is my friend’s kid whom I nanny and who has become a second son. As luck has it, the two boys are opposite zodiac signs, so I often manage conflicting …

A few months ago, I read my piece, “Always get back up,” to an audience at “Listen to Your Mother,” a unique nationwide reading series that for four years had a show in Baltimore. The story I shared was about the different takes on mothering I’d experienced in my youth …

I may sound like a dinosaur, but when I was a kid and wanted to watch a particular television show, I had to wait until it actually aired. This torturous interval could last hours, even days, and I had no control over the situation—I was at the mercy of a …