My BFF is an accomplished pianist and vocalist. When my kids were young, she took each of them to the piano over a period of time to see if they had any innate musical ability. My youngest son took to it like a duck to water. At her advice, we found a teacher and he started regular lessons at age 7, in the 2nd grade. (I looked for a picture of my son at the beginning...

We spent the better part of the past weekend with our daughter in Louisiana. Although she will not graduate until December, this was her final Phi Mu Carnation Ball (her sorority formal) as an active member. Last year we came to the formal (parents are invited for the dinner and awards then “dismissed” before the real party!) and loved watching our girl...

I’ve always loved prom, everyone all dressed up, excited for an evening of food and fun, dancing and laughter. We had the last one on Saturday night. Of course it isn’t quite the level of frenzy when it’s your son instead of your daughter, but it was poignant all the same, especially since he double dated with his cousin, also a senior. Aren’t...

One thing I’ve learned as my children have gone off to college: with each one that leaves home, I get a piece of my brain back. It’s true. Suddenly all the day-to-day details that I keep in my head are gone, for I don’t see them on a day-to-day basis. Nor do I know all the assignments or appointments or responsibilities that fill their schedules....

This past weekend–Easter weekend–was truly the start of our race to the finish. And no, I’m not taking about graduation. I’m talking finish, moving the last child into his dorm room in August. Because between now and then, it’s unadulterated chaos. Want a sampling? April–third spring break week, cap and gown pictures, major...

My husband has talked about this trip since I met him. He’d been to spring training in Florida once as a teenager, with his dad, but it just never worked out to take our kids. So many other plans interfered during spring break, not to mention the money and expense of taking a family of five. Then our youngest son started dreaming about it with him and during...