Articles

Parenting Perspectives: Like beauty, coolness is in the eye of the beholder

I have noted before that there is a vast distance between me and my daughter on the coolness scale.

• Kathy Tofflemire

Parenting Perspectives: Teen years bring new fears

On Friday, my older grandson will celebrate his 14th birthday. A year ago, when he entered the teen years, I wondered (in this space) whether he would soon find hugs from his grandmother just a bit too embarrassing. So far, so good. They’re still OK. In fact, he often initiates them.

• Kathy Tofflemire

Parenting Perspectives: Waiting for opportunity to knock

It is nearly the end of February, the “Monday of months,” I read somewhere. It’s the month of my birthday and Groundhog Day – both fall on the same day, actually.

• Kathy Tofflemire

Parenting Perspectives: Readers feel downright peevish, too

It is always interesting to see what subject will strike a chord with readers. A few weeks ago, I wrote a column about my pet peeves regarding grammar, and several readers wrote or emailed me examples of what annoyed them:

• Kathy Tofflemire

Parenting Perspectives: Which brings us to the subject that annoys me

OK, the election is finally over, and we’ve gotten back to our “normal” lives. I stopped recording on my DVR every TV show I wanted to watch so that I could fast-forward through the ugly political ads, and I’m weaning myself from going home after work every night and watching MSNBC. (But I do so like Rachel Maddow, and Chris Matthews was even growing on me.)

• Kathy Tofflemire

Parenting Perspectives: Pattern could become, like, really annoying

My grandson has been a teenager for a mere six months, yet the transformation has been quite amazing and somehow immediate. I can now look him straight in the eye, and his voice has changed.

• Kathy Tofflemire

Parenting Perspectives: Does it take a village to raise a child or committed parents?

I read the birth announcements most every day that I work. It’s not that I’m all that interested in the region’s new arrivals; it’s just part of my job as a copy editor.
One can’t help but notice a change in those announcements in recent years: It’s rare to have a list in which all of the parents are married couples.

• Kathy Tofflemire

Tofflemire: Yikes! Now grandson is a teenager

It’s official. I’m now the grandmother of a teenager. My older grandson celebrated his 13th birthday a few weeks ago.

• Kathy Tofflemire

Parenting Perspectives: Artistic gene follows the Y chromosome

The artist gene in my family seems to run through the Y chromosome. My father could draw, and both of my brothers were true artists. My mother and I? Not so much.

• Grandson's drawing

Tofflemire: Enjoying an anti-social life

I’m now 62 years old, and my status as a curmudgeon notwithstanding, I have come to the conclusion that I am anti-social.

• Kathy Tofflemire

Columns

Parenting Perspectives: Grand women recalled

I have been a grandma now for 11 years, and lately I’ve been thinking about my own grandmothers and my relationships with them.

Parenting Perspectives: True tales of cats and dogs and kids

I have shared my home with only one man and one child, but I’ve never been without at least one critter in my house since 1969.

Parenting Perspectives: Grandma just a ‘how r u’ away from texting grandson

‘Hi grandma how r u” It’s a text from my grandson who’s 10 going on 11. From his cell phone.

Parenting Perspectives: Food for thought from one picky eater to another

My older grandson could survive indefinitely on macaroni and cheese, pizza and cold cereal.

Parenting Perspectives: Perfectly created scrapbook pages chronicle life events

My daughter is a scrapbooker; I mean a serious scrapbooker.

Parenting Perspectives: Do babies really need to read?

Have you seen the infomercials for “Your Baby Can Read”?

Parenting Perspectives: Halloween has changed over years, but still fun for all ages

Boo! It’s that time of year again – ghosts and goblins and candy corn.

Parenting Perspectives: Youngest grandson a big hit with girls

Young love – we’re talking really young love here – is sweet.

Parenting Perspectives: Summer road trips just not the same

Last month my grandsons and their mother made a trip to Minot, N.D., to visit their grandfather.

Parenting Perspectives: Driver’s license changes needed

My mother never drove a car, so when Dad was unavailable I walked, rode a bike or took the bus where I needed to go.