-
Summer … Almost
As we pass by Memorial Day and enter June I find we are living in a strange Purgatory. Summer is here, for all intents and purposes. The kids have summer swim team practice after school at the local pool. Baseball and soccer practices are ramping up and the minivan carpools are being sorted and finalized. […]
-
I’m in the Washington freakin’ Post!!
Today I reached a major milestone. Something I wrote has been published in the Washington Post. It was a short piece. 100 words or less defining motherhood. Out of who knows how many submissions mine and nine others were selected to run in the Style section under the On Parenting heading. You can read it […]
-
Gardening!
All last year my amazing husband made me a garden. I helped, but it was mostly him doing the hard labor of a 1920’s prisoner. I designed the plans – to scale, thank you very much – of 2 different gardens. One for veg and one for fruit. All summer long he augered in the […]
-
The Book It’s Meant to Be – Thoughts on my First Draft
I have, after almost a year of writing, finished the first draft of my first fiction novel. Time to pop the champagne and have a celebratory dinner out. But I’m not as thrilled as you would think. Sure, I am happy. And I’m proud of myself. This took a lot of my time and effort […]
-
4 Life Skills That Will Teach Kids How to Shoulder Responsibility
I have a new article up at AFineParent.com. This one is all about how raising your kids to be competent adults by giving them responsibility now. Not only is this article full of great research, but it give you a little view into my family life. Here I am. Folding laundry. The ball and […]
-
Lateness and Effort in Writing
I’m a bit late on this, but lateness seems to be one of my main characteristics recently. I am late for lunches out, late to appointments, late in getting my children to bed. I’m just late. I am also late in my own personal deadlines for this book I’m working on. I am writing a […]
-
Summer Writing
This summer has sucked for writing. Absolutely sucked. I have gotten nothing done. I wanted to have a draft of my book finished by the end of this month, but I am miles away from that now. I’m trying to write today, but am finding it impossible. Why? The kids. The house. The garden. I […]
-
Dave Grohl Saved My Marriage
I was watching a re-run of the Foo Fighters singing on Carpool Karaoke and I started to get all nostalgic. Not because of the Nirvana connection. You see, Dave Grohl saved my marriage. It was eons ago. Probably 2BC. BC = Before Children. We didn’t have kids, but I wanted them. I wanted it badly. […]
-
Hands Off, Yet Supportive
Okay. Today I’m trying to be hands off, yet supportive with my kids. It’s easier with one than the other and that has to do with how much confidence I have in their competence. And that is my fault. Backing up, I went to an incredible talk by Jessica Lahey, the amazing author of The […]
-
Need a Parenting Expert?? How about 20!
So, usually I only post links to my own articles. When I link to someone else it’s because I think their content is pretty darn excellent. Today I’m linking to the 2018 Positive Parenting Conference. I’ve been working on the fringes of it so you’ll see my face if you scroll waaaaaaaayyyy down to the […]
Mindy Carlson
author of Her Dying Day
Mindy Carlson 