KATHY TOFFLEMIRE
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.
By Kathy Tofflemire , May 20, 2013
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.
By Kathy Tofflemire , April 08, 2013
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.
By Kathy Tofflemire , February 25, 2013
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:
By Kathy Tofflemire , January 14, 2013
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.)
By Kathy Tofflemire , November 19, 2012
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.
By Kathy Tofflemire , October 08, 2012
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.
By Kathy Tofflemire , August 27, 2012
Tofflemire: Summertime and the livin’ was easy
When school let out for the summer, The Forum ran stories on ways to keep youngsters occupied throughout the summer months. I’m a child of the 1950s – a different time, for sure – so I am amused and perhaps a bit perplexed by the necessity to entertain the small fry until the school bell rings again in the fall.
By Kathy Tofflemire , July 16, 2012
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.
By Kathy Tofflemire , June 04, 2012
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.
By Kathy Tofflemire , April 23, 2012
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.
By Kathy Tofflemire , March 12, 2012
Tofflemire: The ages of cool - or not
My daughter is a cool mom, or so she says. She likes to interact with her sons’ friends and believes they find her entertaining.
By Kathy Tofflemire , January 30, 2012
Tofflemire: Please pass the popcorn
I texted my nearly 40-year-old daughter some weeks back to tell her that “The Smurfs” movie was at what we affectionately call “the cheap theater.” I also told her that I would not go with her to see it.
“That’s just smurfy,” she replied.
By Kathy Tofflemire , December 19, 2011
Parenting perspectives: Suddenly, I see that I've 'arrived'
My pastor likes to tease people during Sunday services. It’s his thing. I usually describe him to others as a spiritual adviser and standup comedian.
By Kathy Tofflemire , November 07, 2011
Parenting Perspectives: Is Bugs Bunny too violent?
Warner Bros has brought back the Looney Tunes characters on the Cartoon Network.
Apparently in the new versions, Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck are roommates. What?
By Kathy Tofflemire , May 24, 2011
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