Sending my daughter to college for the first time was as confusing as the mysteries of the teenage mind. Ashley is our first-born and my husband and I had documented all her firsts: first steps, first words, first day of kindergarten, first car and now, first child to attend college. We recognized that everything we had done up to this point was practice. Throughout the summer, we shopped together for college essentials like toiletries, colorful bedding, laundry baskets, eating utensils, and power cords. She selected her college courses on-line and searched for a roommate through the school’s Facebook page. She was ready to begin a new adventure and had marked off the boxes on the … [Read more...]
What to Expect When You Own a Hamster
August 29, 2013 By 9 Comments
When my kids were younger they begged for a hamster. For Easter we surprised them with a brown longhaired teddy bear hamster, the perfect gateway pet. We purchased all the essentials; modular habitat complete with tree house, tunnels and a wheel ($40.89), exercise ball ($23.98), and chew toys ($3.99). Our kids (sort of) played with Chubby Cheeks for about three months and then ignored him. But the real nail in the coffin, the hamster grew a tumor. Not just any tumor but one that oozed, a pus-filled weeping red disgusting tumor. "The Hamster Problem" Soon the hamster was living in the laundry room. Since I washed all the clothes, it became my task to feed and care for him. But after … [Read more...]
College Interns Gone Wild Makes a Splash
August 13, 2013 By 3 Comments
Although these college interns may not be the “Interns Gone Wild” you usually hear about, there has been a lot of buzz about other interns. From the crafty FOX news kid who brought us Captain Sum Ting Wong and Wi Tu Lo to the interns suing companies like MSNBC and Saturday Night Live, college interns have been making quite a splash. These interns are doing the same by bringing something else to the table, a hilarious video that sheds new light on internships in general and theirs in particular. My daughter is one of the stars and with enough views, her team gets a $100 bonus! Watch it now! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oht6F7-h4uQ … [Read more...]
Charity and the Chump – Life Lessons for Teens
August 7, 2013 By 3 Comments
In an attempt to teach my fourteen-year-old son life lessons, in particular charity, I used every opportunity as a learning moment. He served meals at a food pantry in San Francisco, volunteered at Open Heart Kitchen and collected canned food for the needy. If there was a chance to help, he raised his hand. Life Lessons for Teens-Church Church needed volunteers at Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco, a community outreach program for those suffering from homelessness, hopelessness, poverty, and drug use. He worked side by side with other volunteers serving meals and packaging box lunches. When he returned home, he relived his day with me and said, “We even ate lunch there. The … [Read more...]
Mom Fights Back at End of School Year
June 6, 2013 By 9 Comments
A few years ago, after dropping my kids off at middle school, I met a couple of friends at Starbucks. The conversations went something like this--- End of School Year “So, what’d you get on your report card?” I asked, tapping a venti latte with my nails. “Five A’s, 2B’s. How about you?” said another mom as she checked her cell phone. “Four A’s, one B and one C. Took me two parent teacher meetings and a call to the principal to get the C,” I said. “Try harder next time.” Things have gotten so bad that we feel personally responsible for kid’s failures, always trying to resolve problems. It’s time to stop helping so much and let them learn from the consequences of their … [Read more...]
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