No good deed goes unpunished.  I dislike this saying, mainly because it seems to be true. Several times over this past week I came across incidents where people were criticized for doing something good or nice or because it was the right thing to do, simply because of who they are, personally.  One example was when a friend sent me the link to Taylor Swift’s song “Ronan,” which Swift sang during the Stand Up To Cancer campaign earlier this week. Reading my friend’s warning of, "watch it with a box of Kleenex," I still wasn’t prepared for the instant onslaught of emotions the song brought up. …

The seasons are changing. I can feel it in my wardrobe. For some reason, I decided to wear a hoodie this morning as I dropped my kids off for their last day at camp. No real reason to since the temperature is the same as it was a few days ago when I wore shorts and tank top, but for some reason, I threw it on. Yes, we may have one official weekend left of summer, but apparently my inner style goddess is ready for fall. I love summer, don’t get me wrong. The flip-flops and cute, colored toenails and the ability to walk outside without a coat, but living in Michigan, we are blessed with the …

Being a parent, I have realized that one thing I am really good at is laughing at my mistakes, because really, if I didn’t laugh I would just be a horrible, sobbing mess hiding in the corner of my closet and nobody needs that.  One of my better, laughable "parenting" moments came this week when I was trying to get my two boys ready for camp. As many parents know, trying to get your kids ready to go anywhere in the morning is just not the best part of the day.  Recently, it’s become my habit to bark orders at my kids to get dressed, brush your teeth and pack your bags. Distracted by emails or …

Typically, I like to think of myself as having a pretty easy going personality. My husband might not agree, but from where I’m sitting, I think I let a lot of things go. I will admit, however, there usually comes a time, pretty much once a month, where I just get extra irritated by certain things.  This week was one of those weeks. At one point I decided to figure out which things irritated me the most. Some of them were funny; others still kind of make me mad. NBC's coverage of the Olympics Avoiding spoiler alerts for the past two weeks has been an ongoing hazard for me since I enjoy …

It's amazing what a blanket over a couple chairs can do to create a world of possibilites. The other day my boys were in a basement playing with friends under a homemade tent and I was reminded of how blessed and easy childhood can be at times. Those special years when the ability to create a magical space only requires stealing from your mom's linen closet.  Just like that, a magical world of soldiers, monsters, secret agents and missions to save the world come to life under the cover of Christmas blankets and old sheets. It's a world where anything is possible and you can go wherever you …

As you get older, you start to realize that being competative becomes more about proving things to yourself rather than being first or the best. The Warrior Dash is one of those competitions, like many races these days, that are following the trend of intense races, where the real victory comes from just finishing. Filled with obstacles such a jumping over fire or climbing cargo net walls, the weekend event will take place this Saturday and Sunday in Mt. Morris. Last year was my first year running in the competition-- completely by accident. My husband had actually signed up to run the race …

A pregnant friend of mine was scouting out boy names the other day, preparing for the arrival of her second child. “Boy names are hard,” she said to me as she quizzed me on the names of my two sons. And they really are. The pressure we have as parents to give our children names they will be able to live up to or grow into. Finding a name that will represent who they are and-- more importantly-- who they could become is a lot to think about.  A name can define who you are and it can shape your life. There’s a possibility that you are given certain choices or even priviledges in life by people …

I never thought much about the power of superheroes--until I started raising boys. It’s always interesting as a parent, raising the opposite sex, what you learn. For me, it was the realization that little boys need positive role models in their lives just as much as little girls. I don’t know why, but before my two little men appeared in my life, I just assumed that it was girls who needed the extra coaching, the constant confidence building and the person in front of them cheering them on and showing them who and what they could become.  But then I became a woman raising sons and everything …

I'm lucky. I have a great dad. He was my idol when I was young, annoyed me during my teen years, tolerated me during my 20s but always loved and supported me during whatever phase or trouble I seemed to get myself in to. He was never big on words of advice, rather he led by example. He never verbally said, “Be happy,” or “Be a person of character,” he just did and was. He loves my mother, he raised three children he is proud of and he is now a happily retired grandfather of seven who spends his days golfing and enjoying his life. He’s a good man who earned a good life because he led a good …

June  It’s finally here ... the last day of school!  Throw the backpacks in a corner, hide the lunch boxes, throw away all the old papers, open the windows and race to the pool. Summer is here at last -- the day we have been waiting for all those cold, long winter nights when everyone was curled up on the couch in their warm pajamas and favorite blanket, not brave enough to walk outside. It’s time for picnics and parties, beach days and parks. The windows are open, the neighbors are grilling and no one comes inside until dark. The kids are happy, exhausted and covered in chlorine or sand, …

It’s always the little things that seem to sneak up on me every so often, jumping out at me as a reminder that my kids are growing up. Logically, we all know, on a day-to-day basis that our kids are getting older. On some level, we all are grateful for each day they take that new step towards independence, but illogically, most of us don't really think it’s ever going to happen. Not yet, anyway. I mean, we still have such a long time before they are all grown up, right? Reality check- it's going to happen. True story. Just yesterday, I was hit with that ‘jumping out’ feeling as I opened a …

During my college years, I was lucky enough to have a house mother in my sorority who became my mentor and guided me through my younger years with her wisdom and unconditional love. My own mother was 3,000 miles away, so I relied on my replacement mother to help me navigate the minefields of my life. One piece of advice she gave me when I was at a crossroads are words that echo in my head when I am feeling overwhelmed with my life. They are words I use that help me be a better woman, a better mother and a better wife. She explained to me there are three things in my life that I will want: a …

Obsessive Compulsive Disorders: We all have them, but I have to say that when I saw the tanorexic mom on the news the other night, I was thankful that tanning was not my obsession. I mean, yikes.  I realize now, though, that I have always been a little compulsive and yes, obsessive about certain things. I just never really knew that until I went to college. Living with roommates is a great way to have your faults and kooky habits thrown in your face. During my dorm room days, it was pointed out to me that I had this crazy habit of making sure my alarm clock was set for the exact time. For …

There is this mom I know who I consider to be one of the best. Her oldest son is in his 20s now, but growing up, this mom was very involved in his life and school. She volunteered on a regular basis in his classrooms, took him to church every Sunday and monitored his friends and sporting activities.  She was involved. She was present and she raised a good son who turned into a good man who will soon be going off to war where he will defend our country. And yet, he isn't perfect.  As he grew older, past the age where kids allow their parents to control every aspect of their lives, he starting …

So, I caught myself being a bad person last week. Actually a bad woman, which is even worse in my eyes since I make it a point not judge other women since we get enough of it. But, unfortunately, it happened. As I was settling in for my flight home after vacation with my drink, snacks and trusty Marie Claire magazine, a frazzled mom burst onto the plane hauling her two young kids. And yup- she ended up right behind me, and I was blessed with two toddlers kicking my chair the whole way home. But that isn’t what garnered my harsh judgment. I’m a mom- I can handle the annoying kid kicks to the …

So, there I was on the corner of 27th and 7th in downtown New York City fighting the urge not to throw my arms in the air and start twirling around while shouting, “Look at me New York, I made it!” It’s a silly thing, really. I was only in training for three days, walking to the Patch headquarters from my hotel in Chelsea, but I couldn’t help the little goofy smile that appeared on my face as I joined the hustle and bustle of the big city workers on their morning commute that Monday morning. For me, just being there in that spot -- even if I was leaving in two days -- that was my moment. A …

We’ve all heard the question a million times. What do you want to be when you grow up? And up until around the age of nine, I was able to skate by with the response of-- a fairy princess. ‘Cause really, who doesn’t want to be a fairy and a princess at the same time? My standard answer, however, stopped being cute around 11 years old-- about the same time puberty hit and I realized princesses don’t get pimples. It’s also around the time, however, that I did figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up. The problem was that what I wanted to do seemed as farfetched and just as fairy tale-ish as…

So, just for a minute, I’m going to be that parent who tells you a story of how cute and funny my kids are, but I promise I have a point for my bragging. Last weekend, as the family is riding in the car, my older son starts an in-depth discussion about what he wants to name his own children one day, carefully going through options for the perfect name. My 6-year-old son was in the back, looking out the window, seeming like he was oblivious to the conversation when all of sudden he piped in with, “I’m going my name my son Will.” “That’s a good name,” I said back. “I like Will.” “Yep,” he said …

We’ve all heard those stories of moms who take on supernatural strengths to save their children, whether it’s by running down five flights of stairs in a burning building with a child in each arm or by lifting a car off a baby. The adrenaline that pumps through our bodies when our offspring are in danger is unmatched and unequaled. Well, I’m here to let you know that the same supernatural strength also applies to when we think our children are a threat to themselves. My proof of this is when my girlfriend broke through an apartment door this last weekend to get to her 20-year-old son who she …

Sometimes I feel like there is direct correlation with how my day or week has been and the condition of my hair. Take now, for example, as I am in desperate need of a haircut, the brittle pieces of my hair are at risk of breaking off at any minute if I put any more undue pressure on them. And yup -- that pretty much sums up how my week has gone. Unfortunately, no matter how hard I try to hide, control or temporarily fix my damaged locks with bobby pins or hats, there is just no getting around the fact that whenever I look in the mirror, I feel like the little stresses of my life are catching …