Parenting
The WTF Chapter
Last week, I was sitting with a client in her twenties. She graduated college. Got the job. Checked the boxes. On paper, her life had officially begun. But internally, she felt lost. I asked her a question I frequently ask during times of transition, “What would...
The Secret to Empty Nesting Isn’t What You Think
What’s the secret to empty nesting? Find fun girlfriends. Last week, my gal-pals and I went bowling for Galentine’s Day, our silly matching shirts making us look like a team. Which, in a way, we are. We’ve been together since 2021, meeting up every month. Somewhere...
The Conversation You Keep Avoiding
Not long ago, I caught myself avoiding a conversation I knew I needed to have. You know the kind. The one that sits in the back of your mind, quietly tapping you on the shoulder. The conversation you mentally rehearse over and over but never quite begin. So I...
The Quiet Lesson of Peace
Recently I started following the group of Venerable Monks walking from Texas to Washington, D.C. Their journey, documented on social media, is called Walk for Peace. Walking alongside them is Aloka, their gentle rescue pup, a subtle reminder that compassion and...
I Wish She Knew
This is high school me. 40 short years ago. Unsure about what was next. Scared to grow up and uncertain if I was enough. Sad for that chapter to end. Not sure if I was ready to leave my parents. I wish she knew not to worry because the life she builds is a good...
A Mom’s Prayer
My youngest heads back for her final semester of college today after being home for Christmas break. I was blessed with everyone home for a few days together. A full house and a very full heart. My house will now be quiet again. There won’t be cups and plates all...
All Is Calm, All is Bright: What This Mom Wants for Christmas
What a year it’s been. I’m hoping I’ve stayed off the naughty list and that Santa still knows my address. So what’s on my Christmas list as a mom whose adult kids are home (briefly!) for the holidays? To fall asleep at night knowing every bed is full with the...
A Peace Plan for the Holidays
The holidays are magical. And by magical, I mean a seasonal circus that can leave us feeling half-Grinch, half-George Bailey. As moms we exhaust ourselves trying to create memories our families will cherish forever, while simultaneously trying not to lose our...
What College Kids Need at Thanksgiving: More Rest, Less Plans
If your college student is coming home for Thanksgiving, here is my one piece of advice: don’t plan too much and over schedule their brief time at home. College kids are tired — emotionally, socially, mentally, and physically. Many carry invisible fatigue. They’ve...
A Job About Nothing, Taught Me About Everything
My first job-job was at Video Biz, a movie rental store tucked between a Mervyn’s and a dry cleaner in my hometown strip mall. I say job-job because before that, I’d done the usual teenage hustle—babysitting, working in the high school office, and picking up odd...
