The day after Thanksgiving marks the "official” beginning of the holiday season. The sight of sparkly lights and decorations, the sounds of seasonal music, and the smells and tastes of festive foods can create different feelings for us all—from...
My son was born in Indonesia - the world's largest archipelago and fourth most populous country. To my husband and me, it might as well be a deserted island. We were in the midst of foreign surroundings with our...
After doing some very informal research on Valentine’s Day, I noticed that the word “martyr” kept popping up. According to Wikipedia, the original Valentines were the Valentine of Rome and the Valentine of Terni, who were honored for their...
As a new first-time mom, I found myself doing everything for my son. It just happened, and I did not even notice at first that I lost myself. I was so wrapped up in putting my son first and...
I miss my friends, colleagues, and relatives. I miss my circle of people. I miss hugs. I really MISS HUGS! Life has not been the same since the pandemic restricted our way of life. All of us, especially parents,...
When it comes to surviving parenthood, mom friends rank right up there with food, sleep, even caffeine. But not all mom friends are created equal. In fact, some may be holding you back or even dragging you down.
It’s...
Since September is coming to a close and it is National Friendship Month, I have someone I want to tell you about; my best friend Jen. In August of 1991, I walked onto the campus of Albion College in...
I have always been a guys’ girl. Don’t get me wrong, because I’m not a tomboy. I’m definitely girly and have a strong feminine nature. But when it comes to my social circles, they are primarily male. I really...
The comadre-hood is a sisterhood of strong women with shared humor, interests, and background. Technically speaking, a ‘comadre’ is someone you choose to be a godmother to your children (and is then, in turn, a madrina or nina to...
My 9-year-old son is a big reminder of how important it is to have healthy self-talk, exercise healthy boundaries, exercise self-love, and manifest my heart’s desires. When life gets stressful and heavy, we lose sight of our dreams; our...
























