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Raising Kids in the Age of Anxiety: My Take on The Anxious Generation
I just finished Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation, and let me tell you—it was equal parts validating and terrifying. Validating because it put into words what so many of us parents feel in our gut: something about childhood has shifted dramatically in the past decade. Terrifying because… well, the numbers don’t lie. Rates of anxiety,…
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Parenting, Plot Twist Edition
Last night, T decided sleep is optional and self-control is overrated. Midnight hits, and instead of closing his eyes like a normal tween, he launches into a 13-hour YouTube binge. The content? Some guy… playing Minecraft. Not playing it himself. Watching someone else play it. Naturally, I point out the absurdity of this choice. Why…
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Book Review: From Strength to Strength by Arthur C. Brooks
Wisdom for Midlife: Letting Go, Leaning In, and Finding New Purpose I read From Strength to Strength at a time when I really needed it — while juggling the hormonal chaos of perimenopause, raising kids who are growing up way too fast, and navigating the daily highs and lows of being a full-time working mom.…
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Meditation: Not Just for Bearded Swamis and Pan Flute Fans
Until recently, I thought meditation was strictly for bearded swamis, unwashed hippies, and pan flute enthusiasts. And since my attention span rivals that of a caffeinated squirrel, I figured I was automatically disqualified. Add to that the constant buzzing, looping, and fizzing of my thoughts — and the idea of “clearing my mind” felt about…
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Parenting in Perimenopause: Good Inside Meets Hot Mess Outside
I’ve been reading Becky Kennedy’s Good Inside, and I’m starting to wonder if she secretly wrote it for me and H. Honestly, I should probably check the dedication just to confirm. Because every chapter feels like it was designed for our daily battles: me, trying to be calm and intentional; H, testing the boundaries like…
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Cold Hot: The Shower Saga
I’ll always remember herding H toward the shower like a reluctant goat toward a car wash. She stopped short, stuck her hand under the running water, and yelped like a Victorian child discovering electricity. Me: “What’s wrong?! Is it too hot??” (I check the water. It’s fine. Like, spa-commercial fine.) H with the confidence of…
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The Best Club at Golf Camp
The kids started golf camp this week, and as usual, they’ve managed to teach me more about life (and lunch) than I expected. My husband, ever the conversationalist, asked H: “Do you have a favorite club?” Without missing a beat, she replied: “Yes, the sandwich.” I immediately burst out laughing because, honestly, same. Sure, I’m…
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Contumacious Kids and the Quest for Zen
If you’ve ever tried to tell a teenager what to do, then you know the word contumacious (stubbornly disobedient) isn’t just for courtroom dramas. Around here, it describes Tuesday mornings before school. I have two kids — let’s call them T and H. T is my mini-me: witty, a little goofy, and eager to please.…
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Hot Flashes & Holy Wisdom: My Journey to Finding Zen in Perimenopause
If you had told me ten years ago that my path to peace would involve hot flashes, mood swings, and an alarming number of conversations with myself in the bathroom mirror, I would’ve laughed. Or cried. Or both — which, coincidentally, is the same way I react to Target receipts these days. Welcome to Zenopause…
Zenopause 