I’ve been looking into the possibility of having a limo pick my kids and some of their friends up after school the weekend of their 16th birthday. Is that a cool thing now or a not so cool, bury your head in the sand sort of thing? If I were to have the limo pick them up – what should I have them do afterwards. I mean the 10 minute drive from school to home isn’t going to be that amazing. They could drive around town and wave at everyone they see – but I want this to be an amazing, memorable weekend. Limo or not? Help! [Read more]

If you had a relative that you’d put on notice three different times to respect a solid boundary to stay away from you and they refused, what would you do? For the most part, there’s no harm that’s being done other than emotional stress and when the person comes into my home, they talk smack about me and ends up making me feel so bad and depressed. I finally got the nerve to ask the person to stay away – but they refuse. This person has come to my front door – before leaving, slammed the door shut. This person has come to my home and came in and while I leave the room, they stay and talk to my husband while driving me into isolation IN MY HOME! I hate confrontation – I loathe arguments and I just want this person to STAY AWAY! Any... [Read more]

As I begin planning the Super 16th Birthday Extravaganza for my twin boys, I look back on how far we’ve come and a how much my children have endured and lost because of the addictions their father has. Since shortly after the boys were born, their father has exhibited undeniable signs of drug, alcohol and sex addiction. Earlier this evening, while at my son’s wrestling meet – which was a major nail-biter and awesome win by the way, I met a man who approached me after the meet and asked if my son was ______ _______’s son. I said yes, he is one of them – the other is in the locker room changing from having wrestled earlier. It turns out the man was a former boss of their father and had worked with their father for a few years. The man... [Read more]

It’s hard to believe my babies are turning sixteen in just over a month. I want to do something very memorable and special – that’s humiliation-lite. What I have so far: We will begin around noon, the Saturday before their birthday. I’m thinking an open house that will run from 1 PM to 6 PM where family and friends who are older and more boring can filter through and visit the boys in their new house. From 6 PM to 11 PM, we will begin the teen version of the party where they can invite as many friends as they like and have loads of fun with a Guitar Hero tournament and whatever else kids like to do that won’t get me shot by another parent. Prior to the party, I plan on sending out invitations to as many of our family and friends as... [Read more]

Have you realized how many people are growing more and more anxious over the economical crisis we are experiencing? Just yesterday I had a conversation with my dad – being retired, he has a great deal of concern for his own retirement that comes through the auto industry. Understandable, right? When I explained to him the way in which I’m personally trying to remain as positive as I can, he nodded in agreement. He could see how perhaps the right frame of mind might just help keep your sanity, especially during the current recession our country is going through. I shared an observation about New Castle, one of the small cities closest to where I live and with a population of right around 17,000 people. In New Castle, on the main state road... [Read more]