When discussing books with a children’s school librarian, I mentioned Twilight and the fact that so many youngsters are fascinated by Stephenie Meyer’s books.  The librarian said that the series becomes a little more risqué in the subsequent books.  So at that school, they limited the reading to Twilight, unless the student had written permission from the parents.
This was considered an appropriate policy, especially since students as young as fourth grade wanted to check out these books.  This gave the parents input into their children’s reading selections.
This raises some interesting questions:
Do you think a school should limit a student’s reading material unless he/she …read more

As the kindergarten class filed into the classroom, one little boy held out his hand, “For you, Mrs. Allen,” he said.
Then he opened his fingers and dropped into my hand three dandelion heads.  I knew from his grin, he thought he was giving me a treasure.  This reminded me of the dandelion bouquets my brother picked for my mom.
Brother was the kindergartner’s age or younger.  He’d roam around the large front yard of our farmhouse during dandelion season in spring.  Then he’d bring Mother a bouquet…a mass of golden dandelion heads.  No stems, just the heads.
Mother poured water into a cereal …read more

You would like Jane. She tells stories with a smooth-tipped pencil, one that had been used often and is in need of sharpening – or else I think she would had I seen her handwriting. She is my pen pal, or, as modern day would call it, my e-mail pal. She is old enough to be my mother, but we hardly talk that way. 
Jane and I have only known each other six weeks. We speak through typewritten words, sent electronically through cyber space. We talk about mothers and children and the lowcountry of South Carolina. She is my friend.
I think …read more

May this be a Happy Mother’s Day, midst the generations in your family.  This is a time of love and flowers, cards and gifts for the moms in one’s life.  May you create many happy memories and reminisce about those of years past.

If Mom’s a cat lover, what could be more fun that a custom Cat Mom Portrait? I saw these Etsy creations featured on moderncat recently.

Susan Faye, the artist, offers the custom original watercolor paintings of your mom (or other female) and five cats of your choice. You can get more details at Etsy. It’s too late to get one of these in time for Mother’s Day, but it would make a great birthday gift as well.
Have you incorporated cats into your Mother’s Day gifts before?
(Images via Etsy/Susan Faye)

I have my mother’s hands. They are a woman’s hands, creased and well used. Nearly 10 years to the day my mother passed away, I still remember holding hers, stroking her long fingers, telling her it was OK to die.
There are reminders of her everywhere, pushing out from mounds of pansies in my garden or in passages of a thick Pat Conroy novel. At times I can feel her with an intensity that startles me. Browsing hosta in a garden shop or scraping wallpaper from the bathroom walls, I am doing what she did. I am becoming her.
Nine months after …read more

My son, Zackary Elliott Cole turned TWO last week. It marks the end of an era I call,   My Baby Years. 
My Friend Mr. Z is pure joy.
Going to the grocery store with Big Zack is like talking a walk down the red carpet with a Super Star. Seriously. No one can resist this sweet soul.
He gives yummy hugs and kisses. He smiles at all. He shares with everyone. 
You expect women to gawk and goo at a baby, but men? Men will walk across a restaurant to come say hey there big boy!  
As we walk by, strangers exclaim to each …read more