What Makes Me Feel Optimistic In A World Full Of Bad News
If you read my blog you know I’m capable of catastrophic Irish morbidity. Case in point. When my daughters strike an aloof attitude toward me
Category: Parenting
In Defense of a Commercial Christmas
We Collearys are not a religious people. Henry’s a recovering Catholic. I was raised Mormon and love them dearly, but simply could not commit to
My Name Is Tom
Last week I picked my daughters and a friend of theirs up from school. We made a pitstop at our favorite taco truck in front
How I Ended Up Holding A Package of Brains
Why You Should Support Public Education I was a little startled to find myself holding a package containing twelve vacuum-packed brains last Wednesday. “Please tell
The Surprising Thing That Happened When I Parented Someone Else’s Child?
When other people’s children are in my care I treat them like they’re mine. I didn’t used to do this, but I’ve had kids for
Yea, Though I Walk Through The Valley Of Lice
It hath come to pass that a plague hath beset the Colleary family whereupon we were ravaged by lice. No, they were not any of
What Happened When I Said “No” To My Daughter
My daughters’ snuggles are my form of crack. On a biochemical level, my body sinks into a deeper calm when I hold them. And it
When Your Daughter Hits Below The Belt
It seemed like an ordinary night. There were no harbingers of doom — A murder of black crows on the telephone wires outside. A vanity
My Shiksa Daughters Want to be Jewish
We went to a Bar Mitzvah Saturday. You would have thought we’d asked our tween Shiksa daughters to shave their heads and flap their arms
The Drugs Talk With My 11-Year old
Middle school started on Tuesday. Would there be gang bangers? Mean girls? Nurse Ratched-style teachers? One-eyed drug dealers? Should I stop watching CNN? My daughter
My Tween Daughters And I Love “Camp Gyno”
If you’re the mother of daughters just ramping up for puberty this Camp Gyno video is a must. (this is NOT a sponsored post). It’s
5 Reasons Traveling With Your Kids May Keep Them Off Drugs: Ireland Photos
We travel all over with our kids. That’s where all and any extra cash goes. We’ve taken them to Hawaii, Seattle, Toronto, The Grand Canyon,
My Kids Aren’t Me
I always think my kids will like the things I like. I was a water baby. I lived in the ocean as a kid visiting
Girls in their Natural Habitat
Voices: “… and then they’re naked in the jungle and they have to survive.” “When you said naked I thought you meant they didn’t have
My Kid Needs A Therapist
I have a child who is anxious about a big transition coming up. We’re moving to Nebraska where we’ll be installed in the Witness Protection
I Could’ve Been A Milk Carton Kid – Which is Why I Helicopter Parent
My friend Amy told me she lets her 10-year old walk around our Los Angeles neighborhood alone. I tried to keep myself from gasping aloud.
My Daughter’s 11-Year Old Friend Got Her Period
Right after the fifth grade culmination ceremony yesterday, Clare’s good friend Gabriella (a pseudonym) got her first period. Sweet Jesus. It felt to me like
I Need Advice From Working Moms
When it comes to my kids’ emotional lives, I’m an extreme empath. I have little tolerance for my childrens’ anxiety, discomfort or sadness. I have
Little Girl Movie Star Parties Freaked Me Out, Not Anymore
I’ve been Professor McGonegle. I’ve been Medusa. And now I’ve been Makeup-Artist-to-the-Stars, Gilda. I blame my myriad incarnations on my daughter Bridget, because she loves
Castrating an Unwitting Softball Commissioner
A child, who shall remain nameless — (So if you think you know which child she is, you don’t!) came home tonight from her first
Talking to Kids About Sex
When I was a kid my parents didn’t talk to me about sex. At eight, when I asked my mom what a condom was, she
You Read, Therefore I Am
I’m back! Wait .. whaddaya mean you didn’t know I was gone? Didn’t your world feel a little bit empty? Wasn’t it harder to laugh,
Gone Fishing Over The Holidays (Christmas Photos)
Hello, dear fellow humans. I have not felt like updating and writing. I’ve felt like eating Christmas cake cookies and drinking egg nog spiked with
How to Beat Santa Extortion Def-Con 5!
Henry and I spend too much money all year round. He’s a groceries hoarder. If you came to our house and opened our refrigerator, you
My Kids Attacked Me!
I fancy myself a bit of an athlete. There was that time I beat my dad in a 10K even though I walked part of
