Being 13 years old is a full-time struggle. It’s tough to find friends — 3 schools in 3 years, and a 1,000-mile move. She’s met a few friends since moving to Florida; the 6th-grade friends from a different school have faded. Two friends she made this past year are still in the picture, but it’s … More Nobody wants visitors from Florida: Covid-19 means roadblocks at the border
“A father carries pictures where his money used to be.” —Steve Martin … More Father’s Day: If you’re lucky, you have received — or now you’re giving — great advice
When I was 13, getting braces was a drudgery no child would willingly anticipate or take on. They were ugly, they made you look different — “Hey metal mouth,” and “Is that railroad tracks in your mouth?” We’ve known for several years that Daughter would eventually need braces. Her teeth took on a life of … More When did this change? She couldn’t wait to get braces — but the price changed, too
If you have Facebook, it’s likely you get those flashback pictures — “10 years ago” and so on and so forth. It’s supposed to be a feelgood kind of thing. It digs deeper into your gut when a child is involved. Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve received several of those Facebook flashback moments. … More Facebook flashback photos take us back in time — but didn’t predict the future
It can be a rough tumble from top of the heap to just another face in the crowd. It’s a lesson Daughter and I have both experienced — actually, she’s experiencing it now. Many years ago, I yawned my way through the first six grades of what was then elementary school. Interesting aside: In these … More The 7th Grade Blues, When It Just Didn’t Add Up (for the first time)
It was early on a Sunday evening. The three of us sat around the small round table in the area of our house that we have loosely described as the […]
… More Feeling growing pains — and watching beauty and grace blossoming before me
Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and bottles of bubbles … During our more-than 2000-mile trip, that Arianna Grande pop hit was on some sort of radio perpetual motion machine, playing in every state, every county — occasionally interrupted by a song from a performer named Post Malone. Listening to these stations pleased Daughter immensely, especially when she … More Music echoes through time — but now I hear dead people
Never has there been such turmoil, such change, such incredibly demanding work. My family’s possessions are scattered: A full storage unit in Florida. A stuffed PackRat trailer stashed in Cherry Hill, NJ. A truckload of possessions at our current home, waiting to be emptied from the house and move to somewhere in Florida … ? … More Moving to Florida: Frustration and chaos, but Daughter’s smile overshadows all
It’s Kindergarten Graduation Time. Again. It’s been six years since Young Daughter made this same step up to 1st grade. It’s the kind of June morning where the mugginess plasters your shirt to your back, between the shoulders. Parents wave paper programs, coaxing a hint of a breeze. The children are restless. The teachers are … More New memories of Kindergarten, inside looking out: Small students, big hearts
You know she’s growing up when she hits the birthday when the gifts include only one toy … and a collection of clothing, books, gift cards, a beautiful photo collage of daughter through the years, and cash. The celebration with friends has evolved as well, of course. Two close friends spent the night Friday night, … More Sweet friendship is blind for Birthday girls; meanwhile, one gift is painful irony
