One is the perfect number for our family, and happily for us, one precious girl arrived three years ago this month. As an only myself, I’m prepared to pave the way. Although only children are now ubiquitous, negative stereotypes about them persist. The stereotype that I find the most natural and the least inconsiderate to live up to is that of “immodesty”. My manicure, stylish top, statement necklace and even my eye-makeup are often a joyful shade of lemonade. My only girly-girl child dons her own lemon and white striped dress and matching hair accessories.

I was horrified by the Boston Marathon bombings, as was everyone with whom I spoke.  Recently, I received an email from my dear friend Bonnie St.

Recently I was ask by a major publication a few questions about family balance. As most mom's there is really not a time that I sit down and ponder how to balance. It just kind of organically happens.  As I answered the reporters questions, I realized that I had been working on our Summer Balance plan for a few months. Just now our summer schedule was coming together and that is good since summer is almost here!  

Here is an exerpt from the interview questions of some ideas my Summer Balance "Plan":

This is such a big moment for me! I'm offering one of my favorite children's chapter books, Madison and GA (My Guardian Angel) The Tale of the Slimy Spitball in the KidLit Book May Giveaway. I hope you will stop by and ENTER!

Sheevon would hate to hear that I call her a miracle worker. And yet, after meeting her last week in Uganda, I could not help but conjure up the image of Anne Sullivan working diligently with Helen Keller, who was both blind and deaf. Instead of working with one student, Sheevon opens her home twice a week to many. On a sunny day, she has the capacity to teach 60 in the outdoor space she and her husband built for the purpose of teaching. When it rains, she can only accommodate 10-20 inside her home.

Even if that college happens to have a campus dotted with real marble columns and ivy covered walls, rather than one that simply exists in cyberspace, do we learn everything we need to know professionally there? Many professionals may in fact come away with a great deal of debt, and many high level skills, but not always the brimful he or she had expected to acquire. Luckily, many non-profit organizations support continued career development. I noticed that my own town’s Chamber of Commerce offers an empowering “W.O.W.” meeting each month.

“Think Cold” reads the title of Marilyn Singer’s first poem about Humboldt Penguins, creatures who inhabit the hot, dry coastal deserts of Peru and Chile in her 2012 collection: A Strange Place To Call Home: The World’s Most Dangerous Habitats& The Animals That Call Them Home.  Although, “newly published poetry collection” and “State Standards” seem to be phrases at odds, bright teachers and children show how creativity lives among the standards.  Publi

A dozen charity-runs in Connecticut support honorable women’s organizations for this 2013 Mother’s Day Weekend, but all of those races are held on a paved course.  Why not give your tired legs a break from such pounding and run or walk-run on a beautiful cross-country course instead?  I know that runners like my own woods-avoiding mom are thinking, “hmm…cross-country course: roots, boulders, streams and lots of slippery debris that will trip me” but that does not describe the terrain for the two loop Hartford Marathon Foundation’s True Colors 5K.

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“Mommy, can you take me to the Mother/Daughter thing at school?”

“Sure, Lexi, that sounds fun. Wait…when is it?”

I’ve never gone to a mother/daughter banquet either as a mother or daughter. I’ve seen it on television. I’ve heard about it from friends, but I have always longed to accompany my daughter to one so she can experience it, but my dream will have to be placed on hold.