"Look at you -- you're just like your mother."

Weren't those dreaded words at one point in my life? Didn't I work all these years to not be like her, to identify her faults and weaknesses and to do everything humanly possible to avoid them?

I read a comic strip...

All you need is love. That song's been in my head lately as we hit February, the season of valentines -- either the most-loved or most-hated month of the year, depending how you feel about love at the moment. I've decided to embrace February and its associations this year, because...

This has long been my favorite time of year -- changing seasons, sweater weather and Thanksgiving. I've always tried to teach my children to be grateful for the good in their lives, and while we try to appreciate it every day, Thanksgiving is the one time of year when we...

"What do you want to do with your life?" It's a question I ask my college students this time of year to help them define their goals, and I'm beginning to realize the silliness of the question. It's almost like asking people casually at the grocery store what they did...

This is not about chicken. And it's not about cake. It's not about free speech, and it's not about the Bible. This is about fear, and prejudice, and bigotry. This is about basic human decency.

Back in the early 1900s, women were discriminated against. We couldn't...

We were rocking in the porch swing last time I was visited my parents, doing what came naturally to a defiant, grown up daughter and her world-weary father: I was talking, and he was listening. It was a far cry from the days of old, when he was the storyteller...

While lamenting her daughter's latest eye-roll over something or other, a friend said, "The problem is, I remember this. I remember having this attitude and talking back to my mom, and I remember what my mom used to say. I can't quite reconcile that I'm now the mom saying the...

In a recent episode of Glee, Will asked Emma's parents for her hand in marriage. Emma struggles with OCD, or obsessive-compulsive disorder. Fearing germs and contamination, her quirks include washing fruit for a certain amount of time and wearing plastic gloves when handling food. Her parents...

I am not one for resolutions.

Oh, I used to be, of course. I have vivid recollections of writing out elaborate New Year's resolutions every year, complete with drawings and/or charts. I would use the season as an opportunity to take stock of where I am, where I've been, and...

Dear Santa,

It's that time of year again already, huh? Time sure flies when you're having... well, menopause, spelling bees, and student council meetings. You'll have to take my word on all counts, I'm guessing, but trust me. The times -- and the moms -- they are a'changin'. Heck, I...

"Aside from the fact that we'll get more presents this year, I really can't see any benefit to having a Christmas baby," my pregnant-and-due-any-day friend said. "He's going to be cheated out of attention that's rightfully his. He's competing with God, for Pete's sake! This kid is going to be...

My youngest brother recently announced his engagement, and asked if I had any advice for him, since my husband and I recently celebrated our double-digits anniversary.

I thought for a moment and said, "Yes. Keep dating."

There was a pause over the phone, and then he said, "Really? Are you...

The holidays are upon us once again, the season of family, of gatherings, of traditions. The season, in most people's lives, of hope.

Our tradition at Thanksgiving had been for many years to head to a lodge in the country with my mother's family; aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews...

The holiday season is upon us once again -- Halloween just past, Thanksgiving and the December holidays looming -- and already the queries have begun. It's like clockwork.

"Maggie," they ask, "what are those calorie rules you've suggested through the years that we don't quite believe but hold onto...

Women have always kind of scared me. Not like mice scare me, really, but in a more "I am completely inadequate and therefore unworthy of your friendship" way. I've been like this since I was a child, and whatever the reason, it must be addressed; I recently read that by...

If you've ever taken a dog for training, one thing becomes immediately clear. The classes aren't for training the dog -- they're for training you. You need to understand the way a dog thinks before you can begin to understand how to peacefully coexist with him. The goal isn't to...

I'm here to report that we're lifting the lid on "Toilet Repair Month." I know, I know, I'm sort of down in the dumps about it too; just when you think you could overflow with excitement about summer, there it goes, swirling away. May it rust -- er, rest --...

My son was upset the other night because he realized he'd only practiced piano a couple times throughout the week and his lesson was the next day. He was very hard on himself, and I said, "I'm sorry, honey. You're only nine; mommy needs to remind you more often. That's...

I assume I know my children pretty well. I know their likes, dislikes, fears and dreams. I believe my son to be a relatively shy individual, and I know that my daughter, who enjoys her personal space, will never be an overly affectionate child. No real surprises there.

I used...

I keep my cleaning supplies locked in a cabinet under the kitchen sink. I thought that keeping them hidden would protect my kids; that if I showed them where and what they were, they'd be more inclined to want to experiment with them and get hurt. If they didn't know...