The Struggle between parenting and spreading wings…
Teenagers... if you have one, the word in and of itself should send shivers down your spine. Gone, are the days of the clingy children with open minds that allow the Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny and Santa Clause in their worlds... Instead, their souls are replaced with...
The influence of our elders
I have a dream life. Not gonna lie. Is it perfect? NO. But do I recognize I'm blessed on many levels... Yes.. I was watching Moana (Disney animated film) and I cry every time. EVERY.TIME.... My kids wonder why I can't dial it down, but as I was watching (again)...
Ode to Mothers Everywhere
MOM.... One word... three letters.... infinite meaning.... I'm gonna say it... I took my mom for granted. I was a kid. A kid who had a mom. Every.Day.of.my.life.... I didn't know any different. She was just there....always... And just like most kids, I didn't...
An incomplete life
You never know how you will impact the life of another. I find this statement in truth in many ways.... Years ago, when I was a child - back in the day - I walked to school....alone....and I was 5. Scares you to think about it doesn't it? Makes you cringe a bit....
What I see behind the lens
I am a photographer. In my opinion I have the best job on the planet. Is it always appreciated? No. No job is. But I don't care. Because I know what I know and that's all that matters. My job has taught me so much over the decades of my shooting. My brain works a...
They have to hurt
I hate when my kids cry. I hate when they hurt. I feel like a failure when I can't save them from their pain. Tonight, my daughter came home crying that she didn't achieve what she aimed for. She fell shorter than she expected. To see her pain ripped me to the...
Go adventure where you are
Today was an amazing day. That says a lot, because I haven't had a lot of great days in recent months. I have been struggling a bit with my kids getting older and their need for me is becoming less and less. I still have things that can fill my day, but there is a...
Your apology to your parents
Dear current day parents. I challenge you. Now that you have children, and you see how hard parenting is, I beg you, to write a letter to your parents. THIS...is the day they waited for. I will go first. Dear Mom and Dad. THANK YOU. I had NO idea how hard parenting...
Follow your heart
I am a mom of teens. I wish I had a mom of teens back when my kids started school, so they could shake the self righteousness out of me, so I would leave the elementary school principal alone to deal with more pressing issues. Just so you know, I was born in the 60's...
The country’s losing it’s civility
I'm officially fed up! I just read that someone decided to take a sledgehammer and pick ax to Donald Trumps star on the walk of fame..... I'm disgusted on so many levels, I don't know where to start. And before you get up in arms with your political views, this is...
Stop the judgement
We live in such a judgmental society today. Everyone has something to say about EVERYTHING!! Everyone has an opinion and everyone else wants to judge any opinion that's spoken or any decision that's made. I have seen more ugly in recent times (and not just...
Over analyzing and Love
I find it interesting that whomever reads my blog tends to internalize what they read and wonder if I'm writing about them! And the answer is...if you are thinking it...then YES, I AM! But maybe not..... See, I'm in my head all the time. I can't look at a noodle of...
Fighting what is…..
Ever spend time wishing things were different? IF ONLY..... How many times have you said this in your life while rushing kids to their sports or sitting in traffic from your job that you hate, or waited at the Dr. office wondering why that guy who JUST WALKED IN gets...
Teach your teens about “friends”
I have such a hard time holding my tongue when teenage girls talk about their floundering friendships. Part of me wants to scream, YOU HAVE NO FRIENDS AS A TEENAGER!!! The psychological warfare that happens in the teen years should be listed on "warfare" issues in...
Remember your Ground Zero
I'm sitting here staring at my screen, wanting to write, but I have no real words.... All I know is my heart hurts and at the end of the day I will still make the same decision I made when I woke up. It's amazing how we can let the white noise around us, affect our...
Every changing life
It's amazing how life never slows down. I remember when I was pregnant OH SO MANY YEARS AGO, and I thought, I can't wait to meet my baby and be home with her. It will be GREAT!!! And it was...only it was a LOT harder than I anticipated! Mothers all around me...
Farewell to a great man
I was beyond saddened to hear of the passing of my former boss, Dr. Esmael Adibi. "Essie" (as I called him) worked as the director of the A. Gary Andersen Center for Economic Research at Chapman University. I worked for Essie for 5 years and learned so much from...
Gearing up
Today ore costumes filtered in. Aspen's team tried on the new creations and donned their makeup to get ready for competition. You can almost feel the energy as if getting in a car and starting the engine. All you have to do is put it in gear and go! The girls will be...