Olivia Newton-John and the pink ribbon in the room — My mom loves the musical Grease. She loves Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta. It was one of the first movies she saw when she came to the United States as a new bride. …

Learning to take two steps back while he takes two steps forward — “I got it.” This phrase uttered by my teenager is the current bane of my existence. You would think I would be delighted that my teenager has whatever it is, and I can lean back and enjoy this season of parenthood. But I’ll let you in on a little secret…

When will we stop sacrificing our children? — Does anybody else want to hold their kids extra tight and homeschool them after the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas? I called my sophomore this morning while he was at his bus stop to hear his voice one more time. I hugged my kids, kissed them more, and debated whether…

Talk less, listen more — My first instinct as a mother is to shield and protect my kids from scary things. When recent events unfolded at our local high school, where a student was shot in a bathroom with a ghost gun, my husband and I spoke in whispers, away from our four children. We…

Teaching your child self-advocacy — “Mom! Mom! They said I can’t have a word processor for my AP exam!” My frantic 16-year-old came to find me an hour before we were supposed to leave for his exam. My son has an individualized education plan (IEP). It means he has accommodations so that he succeeds in…

Letting her be her own superhero “What? I didn’t mean it like that. Or are you spending too much time with your mom?” he asked when my daughter looked up from her school-assigned laptop. The teacher had just given a deep beleaguered sigh, and my daughter caught it. …

When working with a client is no longer profitable — I write for several platforms. It’s easy to develop pockets of writing communities with people who write for the same platform. It’s a great way to figure out the nuances and quirks of the platform, especially when it’s new. People help with headlines, best practices, and deciphering expectations. As with…

And I’m still holding my breath — I didn’t even realize it was my first anniversary of ringing the damn bell until I was scrolling through pictures on my phone. It’s been one year since I sat in my infusion chair, crocheting a blanket to pass the time. It’s been one year since I’ve had a needle…

Yes, FREE planning when you work with an Earmarked travel agency — If you have ever tried to book a Disney vacation it can get a little unwieldy. If you try to book it with only 3 weeks notice, it’s a challenge. …