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A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams is a fascinating novel about relationships and prejudice that takes place during the 1930s in New York and New England.  The book alternates between the years 1931 and 1938 with a backdrop of historical events that took place during that period. 

Yesterday the inmates ran the prison and it was insanely fantastic.  July 4th falling on a Wednesday created the perfect storm for our family.  Most of the 4th was spent knocking out housework typically reserved for the weekend which meant that there wasn’t much in the way of cleaning to be done come Saturday.  On top of that because it is a holiday weekend and about 150 degrees in Phoenix no one was in town.  This translated into no games, practices, play dates, family visits, birthday parties, or chores.  Nada.

I called home on my return from a business trip.  My husband laughingly asked me to talk to my middle son about advice he received from his 5 year old sister.  His voice had no laughter in it as he indignantly shared, “She told me solve my own problems!” And then he added for the benefit of everyone in earshot of the phone, “She heard that from mom!!”

When I was younger, a bachelorette out of college with a new job and a steady stream of disposable income, I never thought to budget my money. My bank account told me how much I had at any given time, so as long as I didn't overdraw I was in good shape. It meant going into debt for a few emergencies, but that never lasted too long. I could always cut back until I paid off the debt. 

Today, I’ve chosen the 1983 drama, “Terms of Endearment,” which was nominated for 11 Academy Awards, and won five, including best picture.  Written, directed and produced by James L. Brooks, this tearjerker left an indelible impression on me when I was a kid, and now, as an adult and mom of two young boys, this film moves me in a way that only a parent can relate to.  In fact, the most poignant memories of this movie conjure up feelings that bring tears to my eyes as I write this review.

How many hours per day do you spend in front of a glwoing screen? Before you answer that, consider how many devices you own. Many, if not most, of us work in front of computer monitors. Then there are laptops, tablets, smartphones, and of course TVs. Now think about all the time you spend staring into those screens. Chances are they add up to a majority of your waking hours.

Why reduce screen time?

Raising a Healthier Generation: 

Preventing Childhood Obesity

According to a 2003 study published in The Journal of Marriage and Family, 88 percent of the 991 families interviewed admitted to shouting, yelling or screaming at their children in the previous year. That percentage jumped to 98 percent in families with 7-year-old children.

The truth is, we’re moms, who live life at varying degrees of pressure, so whether we want to admit it or not, we’ve probably let out a yell, or, at the very least, wanted to.

It’s been said, repeatedly, that a mom’s life is a busy life.  Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom, driving all over town, involved full-time with kid stuff; or, a career mother, battling rush-hour traffic, sprinkled with adolescent activities in between, most of us spend more time than we want to in our cars, and if you’re like me somewhere along your daily route, the hunger pangs will strike.