Family

Estrangement, the widespread and stigmatized condition describing cutting off one family member from one or more family members, is becoming increasingly common. Estrangement can mean cutting ties completely…

The holidays are behind us, and you may think that the inappropriate behavior of your grandchildren is a thing of the past as well. Unfortunately, the tantrums they threw over a toy they didn’t get from Santa…

I was sitting in a Starbucks with a friend. My friend and I are grandmothers. To say this is a role we treasure would be an understatement. As we were sipping and chatting, a mutual friend popped in for a caffein infusion after having been denied one during…

Many baby boomers today have pets. We share our lives with pets for many reasons. They’re great company. They bring us comfort and joy, and they offer unconditional love and so much more. So, naturally, when it’s time to buy a place to live, looking for a pet-friendly home…

I have three wonderful moms in my immediate circle of friends who have been ghosted by their children. Dictionary.com defines ghosting as “the practice of suddenly ending all contact with a person without explanation.” The extreme…

After my husband died, I moved into a condo to pursue my new life. I recently threw a housewarming party to which 50 people from different parts of my acquaintance came. I hugged each one, offered a drink, and ran off to welcome the next one…

I recently attended a holiday concert that featured a brass instrument group and two choirs – one of middle school and one of high school age students. One of the songs the combined choirs sang brought me to tears. I attended the concert with my partner and my…

When I was growing up, I played a game with family friends’ kids called “Sign of the Little People.” We’d rearrange items in a room or place an unusual food item on the table, then erupt into laughter as we chanted, “Sign of the Little People!” Silly? Maybe. Fun? Absolutely…

Social anxiety is common, but potentially devastating. It can cause introverts like me to struggle making friends and attending events. Can you relate? Couple that with living in a foreign country (I live in Ecuador), and you have a recipe for potential isolation and…

Did you know that the amount of time that today’s children spend playing is far less than the amount of time we spent playing? How can that be with all the overwhelmed young mothers who seem to spend their time running their children…