Another part of  the end of the school is graduation time! Whether your child is in grade school, junior high, or high school doesn't matter. Kids are graduating every year. If you have a child who is graduating this year, then by all means stand up and be proud! He or she has been working hard to get to this point and now that it's finally over, it's time to celebrate! This goes double for all the high school graduates this year. It's not only about finishing school, it's about moving on as young adults to the next chapter of their lives.

This blog is starting to get downright embarrassing…for me. There have been moments when I wonder why I share these personal moments of humility with others. Why not keep them private? Would it impact my ability to change?

I often times sound like a broken record to my close friends and family. Give me any political issue and I’ll show you exactly how money in politics plays a significant role in its outcome. I’ll spare you my long lecture about how the role of money in our political system degrades the health of our democracy (maybe I’ll hold that for another Working Mother post) and get right to what’s been on my mind.

If you could earn degrees in assumption-making, I'd have a doctorate fifty times over. A conversation in the car with my five-year-old confirmed this and reminded me why I should never make assumptions.

Assumption #1: Never assume that all children look forward to summer vacation.

The other day my 9-year-old daughter and I were folding laundry together (okay, she was folding and I was just keeping her company) and had a little conversation that went something like this:

Daughter:  “Mom, I don’t want to be a stay-at-home mom when I grow up.” 

Me:  “OK, but what made you decide that?”  (with my nonchalant you-can-be-whatever-makes-you-happy attitude)

Daughter:  “Because stay-at-home moms have to cook dinner and do laundry and teach their kids things all day.  You get to go to work and have fun!”

Just to let you know, I’m about to start singing…very loudly. Join with me if you know the song, and I know you do.

There comes a time when we heed a certain call
When the world must come together as one
There are people dying
And its time to lend a hand to life
The greatest gift of all…

Mother’s Day was full of the warm and fuzzies of having my child smother me in hugs and kisses while showering me with nine gifts and cards she had made during the past week. Nine! I promise I’m not bragging. I am saying this because I felt very loved by my little girl and never doubt her love and affection for me.

So when she told me later on Mother’s Day that I’m not nice, I didn’t take it personally. Here’s how it played out.

Hello All

During the last seven weeks, I have wavered at times regarding whether I had made the right decision to leave the workforce as a full-time employee. For the most part, I have been at peace, but I do ask God for some tangible signs that confirm that what I am doing is the right thing for me and my family or whether I made a unilateral decision that is going to have some negative consequences to those I love.

Before you get angry with me, I am only repeating the conclusion made by my five-year-old so if you’re angry with anyone, you can be angry with her.