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Celebrating...and Mourning...the First Day of School

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Written by Jen Friday, 16 September 2011 12:02


Are you a "happy days are here again" kinda mom on the first day of school, or do you wave cheerily as the school bus drives off and then sniffle your way through the morning? I have to admit, I've been both.

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Appreciating 17

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Written by Jen Tuesday, 09 August 2011 13:14

Seventeen is a transitional age. Part adult, part kid, stretching and pushing and pulling and striving to make decisions independently. In our family (and I would bet we have plenty of company), 17 appears to be just as much of a struggle for the adults as it is for the one becoming. We want balance. He wants freedom. CLASH!

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Finding the Center

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Written by Jen Wednesday, 03 August 2011 12:39

Alovely green planter full of blooming, pink portulaca sits on a table on my porch. Originally positioned on the center of the table's bottom shelf, someone moved the pot slightly to the left weeks ago. It's a little thing, but every time I look at it, I am bothered by the fact that something appears awry. And I think, "I need to adjust that." But I don't.

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Comfortable With Chaos

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Written by Jen Friday, 01 July 2011 02:04


How embarrassed should I be that a neighbor keeps offering to help remove and trim back our overgrown trees and landscaping? This same neighbor came over himself and edged our yard. I'm fairly sure we should be horrified but quite frankly, I think it's great. He is my hero. (So is his wife, whose color acuity surely prevented our home from being a nasty shade of something-nobody-would-want-to-see.) Expertise is always appreciated here, especially from folks who don't query, "Hey, Dad, is this the on-button?"

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Hanging On or Hanging Up

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Written by Jen Thursday, 31 March 2011 01:53

Popular thinking has it that we're less civil, less polite than in days gone by. I beg to differ. I think at times our politeness approaches complete insanity. Take the typical business phone recording...

Today I heard that oft-used message when I called the appliance delivery service: "Your call is very important to us."

No, it's not.

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