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Parenting Do-Over: Having Children Many Years Apart
At times I look at my 15-year-old son and think to myself, “Is it too late to have another child?” As a woman slowly approaching 40, I can hear my reproduction clock slowly ticking in the distance. It seems as though every year I age, it gets a few decibels louder. But then I remember…
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Yes, We Camp, and if You Don’t, Here’s What You’re Missing
When I was growing up in New Jersey, my siblings and I typically spent our summers crammed in the back of my grandmother’s station wagon, heading to the Jersey Shore. With blankets and coolers in tow, we would start our days at sunrise and end them at sunset. But one summer, when I was 11…
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How to Raise a Financially Responsible Child
Two weeks ago I handed my son his first debit card for his own bank account. Since he’s 15 years old, I figured it was time for him to control his own money. For the past couple of years he’s received a minimal allowance, which he’s never complained about. Most kids would scoff at $20…
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Are You Raising a Homophobic Child?
When I was growing up, the first sport I wanted to play was softball. My friend, who lived next door to me, played, and pangs of jealousy ran through my body every time she talked about her games. I remember one spring I begged my mother to sign me up for the softball team, but…
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Steve Harvey: He Thinks Like a Mogul
In 2012 Steve Harvey took the stage at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and ended his 27-year career as a stand-up comic. You’d think since retiring from what brought him fame and fortune, he’d be sitting back and relaxing. But that hasn’t been the case. From his popular radio show to a TV talk show,…
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‘I Understand Shanesha Taylor’s Story All Too Well’
Being a mother is rough, and and when you’re a single mother trying to make ends meet, it’s even rougher. There were times in my life when I didn’t know how the bills were going to get paid, if my car was going to be repossessed or if I’d be able to afford a class…
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Single Mothers, Sons and the Sex Talk
I remember the day as if it were yesterday. My son, who was 11 years old at the time, excitedly walked into my room in the middle of the afternoon. “Mommy, I’m a man now!” I choked on my water, literally. I sat there with my mouth wide open and really didn’t know what to…
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Girls With Guns, Boys With Dolls: Does It Matter?
The first toy I fell in love with was a red dump truck I received after a cousin said he was tired of it. Here was a 4-year-old girl, in pigtails and ribbons, dragging a dump truck around after my mother rigged it with a rope. At that age, all I knew was that the…
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Figuring Out the Right Time to Introduce Him or Her to the Kids
Navigating the dating world can be challenging when you’re a single parent. I remember speaking with a guy friend who’s raising three children on his own, and he found it interesting that some of the women he dated were immediately inquiring about meeting his children. He told me that one woman in particular felt offended…
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Hateful and Hurtful: Colorism Is Alive Within Our Kids
My first experience with colorism as a child wasn’t exactly a personal experience. In our house, there were four kids, two light and two brown. My brother and I were the brown ones. It’s not as though we cared, either, or even noticed. We did things kids do on a daily basis: went to school,…
