What I Wish I Had Known About Raising Teenage Boys

  The other day I overheard two women talking about their high school-aged sons. “I can’t motivate him,” said one with a sigh. “He’s smart, but his grades are awful. I don’t know what’s going to happen with college.” The other murmured in sympathy. Their conversation caught my ear because I used to be that […]

Read more

So, Now That My Kids Are Older, I Don’t Have to Worry… Right?

My son Patrick and his band mates toured the Midwest recently. I followed their progress on Facebook as they drove from Connecticut to Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, and Pennsylvania. In the photos, they’re young, beautiful, and smiling. I cheer along and always click the “heart button” underneath. Patrick’s doing what he loves. So why can’t […]

Read more

Advice to a Wary College Graduate…40 Years Later

I had an epiphany last weekend. I toasted my nephew Sean on his graduation from Fairfield University and realized something — I graduated from the same school exactly 40 years ago! I couldn’t help wonder, if I could go back in time, what would I tell that excited, yet nervous young woman about the decades […]

Read more

How Did We Go From Empty Nests to Diva Dens?

You think you’ll feel one way about something, but end up feeling another. My oldest son Patrick moved out recently. I expected to feel easy-going about it, ready. After all, he’s 25. It’s time. But I felt something different. The sight of his empty room hit me harder than expected. All his furniture is gone […]

Read more