I support the 2nd amendment. I have no issues with the use of guns for hunting or sport. My husband owns a hunting rifle, which is properly secured. My father owned a hunting rifle, but I have no recollection of it. He assures me that it was hidden and properly secured with the shells being stored in a separate location. I only know guns from an urban crime perspective, having grown up outside Washington D.C. and then living in Chicago for 20 years. So, admittedly, guns make me nervous. Even so, I'm OK with responsible personal gun ownership. Emphasis on [...]

It's been a long time since I've had a toddler in my house. I remember those years with both fondness and exhaustion. If memory serves me correct, I was always moving. Whether it be playing on the floor or following closely behind a mini whirling dervish who could make a mess of any organized area of my home, my body and senses were always on high alert. Now, with a 14 and 10 year old, other than watching them get their energy out at basketball and karate, I find myself constantly encouraging them to get off the couch and move. [...]

I've been very open about not paying my children for chores, although we do use a "job board" for projects that are above and beyond the daily tasks of "clean your room" and "unload the dishwasher". When my kids need cAreash, they bid, apply, and if chosen, complete the job for a modest income. It's working. Most recently, my son organized my entire spice rack alphabetically. He took time to remove all the contents, wipe down the area, and return the jars in a user-friendly order. Frankly, I didn't want to do it. So I pawned it out. I've learned, [...]

It's been in the news lately. How young is too young for a child to be at a park, or walking about town - alone? Most recently, a Maryland family found themselves under investigation for allowing their children, ages 10 and 6, to do just that. We live in a small town, 2 blocks off our main street, 3 blocks from a local church, and 5 blocks from the library. At ages 12 and 8, my children would walk to the local coffee shop - alone. At 9 my son would ride his bike to the library - alone. Now, at 10, [...]

My 13 year old is now 14. I woke this morning and began combing through pictures from her first year of life. I wasn't pining. Just reflecting. Indulge me for a bit. When I got married, I wasn't sure I wanted children. My husband knew this and didn't press. I've always been pretty selfish with my time, and I wasn't willing to share it, or him for that matter, with anyone. We were young - 22, and just out of college. The subject of children wasn't even in the range of being close enough, to being anywhere close enough, to [...]