Many adolescents mistakenly assume that if they tell their parents how embarrassing they are, their parents will refrain from doing things that embarrass them. As my own family has demonstrated, such admonitions only make parents more determined to be embarrassing. … Continue reading →

As someone who dabbles in etymology and foreign languages for fun, unusual words have always made my heart go pitter-patter. The more obscure the word, the more exciting the discovery and the more eager I am to use it. You … Continue reading →

With Thanksgiving now firmly under our belts, there’s a whole slew of winter holidays to which we can look forward. Depending on your religious affiliation, ethnicity and cultural preferences, you may celebrate Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa, Saint Lucia’s Day or even … Continue reading →

Nothing adds color to the holidays like spending them with your extended family. We recently made the 12-hour round-trip journey by car to celebrate a holiday double-header (Grandma’s 80th birthday and Easter) with Dad’s side of the family. Grandma is, … Continue reading →

One of the many reasons I love my mother is that while she accepts her limitations, she doesn’t use them as an excuse to give up. She acknowledges that cooking isn’t her strong point, but she continues to try new … Continue reading →

As another school year begins, I can’t help but appreciate our public school system. Had my education and that of my siblings been left solely in the hands of our father, we would have been in serious trouble. As is … Continue reading →