My Mother chose my and my Sisters’ names with not only our legal first and middle names in mind, but also what she planned to call us. We’re all named after relatives and her plan was to always call us by a diminutive version of our birth names. I ditched my nickname—Amy—as quickly as I […] More
CW: Suicide. “What’s in a name?” “That which we call a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet.” We hear you, Shakespeare, but what if a name is a deep connection to something not sweet at all, and the mere mention of it inflicts painful memories rooted in childhood trauma? And what […] More
If there’s one element when planning a wedding that arguably trumps all others, it is choosing a date. For one thing, wedding planning can’t really get rolling until a date is set. But picking the right date is important for a number of reasons, including how much it will cost, what the weather might be […] More
In my family, names are passed down within the family. We don’t have any “juniors,” but children are named after grandparents, aunts, uncles or cousins. For my name, there’s a family tradition of passing the name from grandmother to granddaughter. I’m at least the seventh granddaughter to receive my name—Amelia—from my grandmother. Other families have […] More
Going out and about with a baby comes with many challenges. Including making sure you’ve brought all the necessary equipment, such as the snuggly, the stroller, bottles, toys, etc., and working around your baby’s nap time. Then, there is the possibility of your baby needing their diaper changed at a less than opportune moment. Finding […] More
There is no doubt, living with allergies can be frustrating and dangerous. Depending on the severity of your allergies, you might often find yourself scrupulously reading the ingredients of certain foods, and carrying around an EpiPen just to be on the safe side. Then, of course, you might find yourself missing out on treats and […] More
On the rare occasions we patronize a business we happen to know a friend or family member works at, it’s hard not to expect a discount or latitude of some kind. More often than not, they are extremely happy to do just that, up to the extent they are able. However, this is something that […] More
Leaving home as a young adult is a huge step for both the kids and their parents. Parents send their kids off into the world excited for new possibilities, which opens them up to think about how they might repurpose some now empty spaces in the house. If things don’t work out, the young adult […] More
For many people, cooking is a comforting form of therapy, which always makes them feel calm and relieved of stress. Others, however, find cooking is more of an obligation, and something they only do when they absolutely have to. Then too, some people love to experiment with cooking, using recipes as more of a guideline, […] More
For all the joy that comes with parenting, it also comes with numerous challenges. Working parents also face the additional challenge of balancing their work life with their home life, and being present for their children, while also keeping them safe and protected. Which is why it’s important for each parent to divide responsibilities equally. […] More
Like our physical appearance, family and other genetics, our names are something bestowed upon us which we have not control over. Unlike our genetic makeup, however, names are something about ourselves we are able to change. Of course, most people are perfectly happy with their names, or don’t pay much mind to them, and feel […] More
There are several antiquated traditions when it comes to marriage which many people are thankful are now largely a thing of the past. These include a groom asking permission from their bride’s father, the family of the bride being the ones expected to pay for the wedding, or even a bride feeling obligated to wear […] More
