May 24, 2021Sometimes Looking for the Bright Side Isn’t EnoughI don’t believe everything happens for a reason, and I don’t think that every cloud has a silver lining. Sometimes there is no bright side. It’s not that I’m a pessimist or a cynic; it’s just that life has taught me that everything doesn’t always work out for the best. …Optimism4 min readOptimism4 min read
Jan 18, 2021A Safe Haven and a Launching PadBeing a parent often means navigating the swings of a child’s shifting needs. No matter their age, our children want both independence and a soft place of understanding, so it can be tricky to know which style suits the moment. Add illness to the mix, and everything becomes more intense…Parenting5 min readParenting5 min read
Jan 5, 2021The Boy Next Door Outside My WindowLooking out my home office window, I often see the teenaged boy from next door. He looks like my son Robby at the same age — fair-haired, tall, and gangly. That boy likes to shoot basketball in the same hoop in our cul-de-sac. The sound of the ball bouncing on…Parenting6 min readParenting6 min read
Dec 14, 2020Really, Did You Just Ask Me That?As much as you may miss seeing beloved family and friends during the holidays this year, you might also be a bit relieved to avoid the awkward questions. You know the ones — usually meant well, but startling in their insensitivity or intrusiveness. There’s a moment of confusion as you…Caregiving6 min readCaregiving6 min read
Sep 22, 2020Is It Ok to Laugh at THIS?Everyone has inside jokes. They are the stories with details known only to those who share a particular experience, and they inspire longtime friends or family members to laugh uproariously at an embarrassing nickname, or when someone mentions “that time at the lake”. …Humor5 min readHumor5 min read
Jul 9, 2020What Do We Do About Elmo and the Orc Mask?Even before the coronavirus compelled a new work-from-home arrangement, my husband Brad and I had begun the process of converting our son’s bedroom into his office. It’s been almost four years since our son Robby died, and for most of that time the room remained much the same. We had…Parenting6 min readParenting6 min read
May 22, 2020My View of the Power of WritingI never thought of myself as a writer, which I realize sounds strange to say even as my words are published in a regular blog… Writing used to be just something I did for work — proposals, reports, presentations. I appreciated a solid structure, a thoughtful analysis, a clear message…Writing6 min readWriting6 min read
Apr 13, 2020Unexpected Echoes in the Coronavirus CacophonyIt was an unsettling moment of déjà vu for my husband and me — driving north on Interstate 95 traveling to be with our child to provide support in a crisis. Only this time, we weren’t headed to a Philadelphia hospital to help our son cope through a flare-up of…Coronavirus5 min readCoronavirus5 min read
Mar 4, 2020Watching for the Dedication“How can you watch that show?” my husband wonders aloud as he sees another episode of “Grey’s Anatomy” on our DVR. …Chronic Illness5 min readChronic Illness5 min read
Jan 25, 2020Throwing a Gingerbread House Out the WindowThe holidays are over (PHEW!) so I’d like to take a break and focus on the under-appreciated power of silliness. My husband Brad is the well-spring of our family’s sense of humor. His love for “dad jokes” and bad puns is legendary, if occasionally cringeworthy. …Humor5 min readHumor5 min read
