Tag Archives: parenting
A Delayed Gift
In my 20s, I was glad to meet my biological mother who had given me up for adoption. But I was unable to overcome feelings of abandonment. We fought. After 10 years without contact, I called her. She told me … Continue reading
Sharing a Roof, and Money, With Adult Kids
Once you’ve decided to welcome an adult child home, then it’s time to set ground rules, says Julie Lythcott-Haims, author of “Your Turn: How to Be an Adult.” Start with a candid conversation about what each party expects. “Get clear … Continue reading
Huggable Ivy
After a terrible year (I was attacked in my home then suffered through a difficult divorce), my elderly parents visited and helped me pull the ivy that had swallowed my backyard. My father said, “Don’t let that take over again, … Continue reading
The One
“You’ll know when he’s ‘the one’,” my mother said. She died when I was 20, leaving no further guidance. At 23, I was stale inventory by Jewish matchmaking standards. Despair settled in. Until one Shabbat afternoon when Phil, an old … Continue reading
Utility Challenge
Take on the great Utility Challenge. Pull out your utility bills and make your older kids an offer. If they’re able to reduce monthly cost by 15 percent, you’ll split the savings with them. You’ll be amazed by how quickly … Continue reading
