It has been over two weeks since I dropped my youngest son off at college, so I have gotten over the initial void I felt everyday and the teariness that overcame me as I walked by his empty room.
But, it is funny how difficult it is to let go of the daily news blasts from your children, or the knowledge of who they’re with and what they’re doing. I find that as long as I know where he is (or should be), like a class or crew practice, I can have a visual in my head of how he’s doing. It’s the other times–the weekends and evenings–where I really feel the need to find out where he is so I can imagine his comings and goings.
I think these obsessions/neuroses I have are just an outgrowth of survival of the species. I think that they are hardwired into mothers as a way to protect their young. So I’m not embarrassed by them. But I do need to figure out how to control them, especially because my kids are pretty darn safe (I hope), at a good college, and don’t need me to worry about them every day. In fact, I think they’d be horrified if they knew I did so!
One way I know I can calm myself down is by reading Katrina Kenison’s words in THE GIFT OF AN ORDINARY DAY. I’ve been working with Katrina for the last couple of years on this book and I have to say her emails with draft chapters got me through two kids’ college applications processes. She reminds us that our children do not need our hovering or our controlling them when they’re teens. What they need is for us to have confidence in them, knowing they may fail, but that they’ll be okay. And, ultimately they’ll succeed on their own and that will give them the confidence they need. They’ll figure it out. In fact, a beautiful essay from the book will be excerpted in the October issue of Family Circle. It is about her 9th grade son trying out for the basketball team and the heartbreak, but ultimately success and self-knowledge he earned from that challenge.
I will reread another chapter tonight and take strength from Katrina’ insights about letting go, and about finding beauty, grace and transformation in the ordinary days of our life…and maybe on Saturday I’ll call my sons!
What a doll! Barbie, friend to girls around the world, is officially over the hill! She’s turning 50 this year, and still remains one the most ubiquitous boomers out there. There are a number of events planned, but the most elaborate by far happens this weekend at New York Fashion Week. 50 designers, including Bob Mackie, Donna Karan, Michael Kors, Tory Burch, and Vera Wang, have designed tributes to the doll, celebrating the icon’s timelessness. So if you happen to be at the tents in Bryant Park (and why wouldn’t you be?), be sure to check out Barbie at 3pm on Saturday. Of if you think that the video above is wrong, and that in fact Barbie is not an inspiration to young girls, but a bane, do tell. Leave us some comments with your thoughts.
10 years ago, Stump, a young pup, barely 2 months old, watched in awe as an 8-year-old Papillion, the oldest ever to win, won the the Westminster Dog Show. He thought to himself: “Ruff. Ruff, ruff. Ruff ruff.” (Translation: Someday that will be me.)
Now just this week, Stump made good on his promise, becoming the oldest dog ever to win “Best in Show” at the Westminster Dog Show. At 10-years-old, he’s a bit older than a boomer I suppose. (Remember: that’s 70 in human years. Historians are still not entirely clear if the “Puppy Boom” coincided directly with our own “Baby Boom.”) It’s still a great accomplishment for Stump. To commemorate the Daily News has offered us 10 fun facts about Stump, and here they are:
1. His official name is Ch. Clussexx Three D Grinchy Glee
2. He was born is Dec. 1, 1998
3. He is named “Stump” … because he has stubby legs, is brown and resembles a tree stump
4. He has sired pups named Root, Forest and Myrtle
5. His favorite chew toy is a plush Grinch doll
6. He weighs about 50 pounds
7. He lives in Houston, Texas with the 2001 Best in Show winner J.R., a Bichon Frise
8. He didn’t train at all for his return to the ring
9. He is the oldest dog ever to win Westminster, that title was previously held by the 1999 winner, an 8-year-old Papillon
10. The Westminster show was his 51st career best in show win
Congrats Stump. You’re an inspiration to pups everywhere!
Things are tough these days. We all know that. All week around here,Judith Sills has been telling you to get back out there, dating-wise. But what are you supposed to do when money is tight and you can’t afford fancy dinners all the time?
Luckilly, Marie Clare has offered up a good list of alternatives:
Have a picnic
Go for a hike
Take a pottery class
Go to a flea market
Visit your local museum on the free night
See a local band
…and 43 more!
You can read the whole list here. Do you have any others you want to add to the list? Leave us a comment.
Last week Karen wrote about beating the winter blues. She suggested wearing the right makeup. (See also: here, here, here, here, and here!) And then today, my buddy, Real Simple e-mailed me (we’re tight) with some more tips. Here are their tips for beating the winter blahs:
Okay, okay. So Henry is a lizard (a turatara living in the Southland Museum in New Zealand to be exact), but he still managed to find love–at 110 years old! Henry met Mildred (a spry 80), last March. He wined and dined her for several months. Then last July she announced that she was pregnant–with 11 babies! All 11 hatched this week and they are the proud parents of 11 healthy lizardlings. (Take that octuplets!)
It only goes to show that you just need a little bit of confidence, no matter how old you are. I’m not saying that you should necessarily start with someone 30 years younger, but it’s worth getting out there. Henry next has his eye on a 20-something turatara. He’s clearly getting a little carried away. But maybe you should too. Or maybe, it’s better that Judith Sills give the relationship advice, and I stick to quippy posts about lizards!
Hey Springboarders. Sorry we blacked out there again. Last week I got a little caught up in the inauguration hoopla to blog, then took a mini-vacation, and then came back sick. I’ve been a little out of it, but I’m back.
To celebrate the upcoming release of Judith Sills’ new book Getting Naked Again next week, I want to talk a little bit about dating. It’s hard whether you’re single, divorced, widowed, or whatever. Does anyone have any experiences using Match.com, Chemistry.com, JDate or any of the other sites? One reader already shared her story. I hope others will too. We want to hear about good dates, bad dates, coffee dates, sexy dates (well, not too sexy–acceptable for work!), boring dates, and whatever kind you’ve had.
In the meantime, Cosmo is offering up some help. Want to know 40 things you can learn about your date in the first 10 minutes? Well, here’s your chance. What can you learn, for example, about the kind of sports a guy likes?
“Solo sportsmen, like runners and swimmers, savor their independence and relish spending a lot of time alone,” says relationship-skills coach Steve Nakamoto, author of “Men Are Like Fish: What Every Woman Needs to Know About Catching a Man.” Men who are fans of mainstream team sports, like football, basketball, and baseball, 2 tend to be competitive — on the field and in all aspects of their life — and they like to hang with their entourage. As for the guy who’s just not into sports at all, 3 “he’s an independent thinker, usually on the sensitive side.”
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day has been observed in the United States since 1986 (though it took until 2000 to be adopted by all 50 states), but since 1994 it has been officially a day of service. “Make it a Day On, Not a Day Off.”
Martin Luther King, Jr. has always been one of the most important boomer icons, and his message of service in communities has never been more resonant than today. Our President in one more day, Barack Obama started off his career as a community organizer, and we will surely see this message come alive during his time in office.
This year there are more than 12,100 service projects around the country, which is double the number from last year. If you’re taking part, we’d love to hear about it. It’s not too late: you can find volunteer opportunities here. And, of course, there are lots of opportunities to volunteer all year ’round.
Today is the last day in our week of Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual tips, so I thought we should get to the basic of all basics: What tools should all makeup artists have?
Above is Bobbi’s Essential Kit. These are the basic supplies that you should always have with you. They include:
Skincare
Foudation palette
Lip and cheek palette
Eye shadows
Full brush kit
Lip liners
Lip glosses
Bronzer
Gel eyeliner
Mascara
Eyelash curler
Depending on what kind of makeup you’re doing, you may also want a Fun Kit, like this one. These are the extra things you won’t need very often, so store them all together in a separate plastic bag or makeup kit.
Sparkle and glitter powders
Nail polish in an array of colors
Intense theatircal eye shadow shades and blushes
Lip lacquers and matte stains in bold colors
Self-tanner and/or bronzing gel for the body
Body paints
If you follow this week’s tips, and of course the others in the book, you’ll be on your way to becoming a professional! Or at least an amateur who always has flawless makeup!
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