The Book Journey

Show Biz Babies…Oy!

The other night I had a rare treat – dinner and a movie with my two teenage daughters. Since they are more than four years apart, and the 17-year-old’s non-stop social engagements materialize as spontaneously as text messages, we don’t all get together much. I’ve recently instated a policy for myself — if she ever wants to do anything with me I drop everything and say, “Yes!”  Dinner on the patio...

The Fascination With Babies (A Traveler’s Perspective)

On my way to LAX to take my daughter to camp and spend some one-on-one time with her, I was excited, but also uneasy and unsettled. I felt like I was ditching school, neglecting homework. There was also a twinge of something even more anxiety provoking I couldn’t quite place, as if I’d left the stove on.  All because I’d made the last minute decision to leave my laptop at home.  My husband had gently nudged...

Accepting Grandparents’ Good Intentions (With Humble Apologies To My Father-in-Law)

After meeting motherhood dazed, confused, even panicked, I was greatly relieved to discover a child-rearing philosophy that made perfect sense to me. Captivated and empowered by infant expert Magda Gerber and RIE, I set about following her parenting principles to the letter. My gusto caused some missteps. The one I regret most is offending my father-in-law.  My handsome, fun-loving father-in-law is a successful...

Meet Virginia

My mom died a year ago. A few weeks before that I asked her to promise to send me a sign, a symbolic shout-out — something to let me know she was okay after she left the earth. She was feeling discouraged that particular day.  Her usually upbeat personality, hearty laugh, and glowing optimism were dimmed by her declining strength and the indignities of the final stage of cancer. But she got a visible charge...

Men Will Be Boys (A Valentine)

When women get together to talk, the subject inevitably turns to men. Before long the complaints begin, and the recurring theme is “men are such boys!” Do men truly stay boys while women mature?  Are men, with their tougher exteriors, protecting an ultra-tender, childlike vulnerability?  Or, maybe the little boy is what women want to see — he is easier, less complicated to connect with and embrace. We...

Big Bad Mama

I had a conversation with a neighbor today, a mom whom I have not spoken to for more than a few moments in passing for several years. She needed to spill some resentments she’s had towards me.  Her point-of-view did not surprise me, but it helped me connect some dots.  Since becoming a mom, many of my weaknesses have been unveiled, but I have also realized some surprising strengths.  For most of my life I have...

Facing the Strange

I have never been fond of change. And I don’t mean coins, I mean transitions. This is one of the many things I have in common with babies and toddlers, who often find transitions difficult too. I would love to say, for example, that I’m a world traveler, full of wanderlust to explore the earth. That sounds sexy, but it’s not me. I am a homebody. I enjoy trips once I’m there, but the thought of getting...

No Self-Assurance (Faking It)

As early as I can remember, I suffered from a lack of self-confidence. At the same time, I had great expectations for myself, vivid fantasies about fulfilled potential and my fabulous life-to-come. These conflicting feelings of ambition and low self-confidence were played out in my first year of school. One day, my kindergarten teacher was reading to the class from Peter Pan, and a girl in the class announced...