by Grace Bon

The other day we went to pick my niece up from pre-school. I waited in the car with my daughter while my cousin ran out to the classroom to get her daughter. It was just a normal afternoon.

Or so I thought.

I happened to look around and noticed a boy in a red shirt running around behind a tree. Then I see him pull his pants down. I’m sitting in my car with my mouth open thinking to myself, “Oh my… there’s no way he’s going to pee behind the tree right now!”
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Note from editors: Every since our editor-in-chief’s book, Harlots Sauce, was published, she has been receiving dozens of emails and Facebook messages each week from people seeking her advice on their life and love problems. About this she has said, “People seem to feel comfortable asking my opinion, even if they haven’t met me. Maybe it’s because after reading my book, they learn that I’m someone who, in my past, has failed miserably at every possible relationship – that of being daughter, wife, mother… even friend. You go to an expert when…

My youngest son is a space enthusiast. His bedroom is decorated with posters of the planets and the space shuttle. There are those glow-in-the-dark stars plastered all over his ceiling, and mounted directly above his bed is a working replica of the solar system.

In February 2008, when he was twelve-years-old, he found out there was going to be a lunar eclipse visible in our area. He was so excited about it that he posted a note on the main entrance to our house so we wouldn’t forget. He eagerly waited for the…

Preston Walters rolled his eyes and sighed heavily as warm air started coming from the air conditioning vents. This always happened when he was in the car line; it was one of the reasons that he hated picking Misty up from school. He shut the air off and pushed down on the electric window buttons. The front passenger window glided down with ease, but the other three stayed shut tight. He slammed down on the buttons with his…

Did you know that there are about 14 million single parents here in the U.S. today? They are responsible for raising 21.6 million of our nation’s children. (Based on 2005 census statistics, released in 2007)

And within the last few years, I became part of that growing single parent population.

After my divorce was final, though I didn’t set out to surround myself by other single parents, somehow it just happened. Two of my best friends are single moms, and I even know my share of single dads that are being added to the…

It’s Wednesday and I’m slightly thrown off because I’m sick and because my toddler went to her grandma’s today, instead of her usual day (tomorrow)…

So, I’m not sure if I’m just cranky because I’m sick or if I am just simply annoyed at this…

I just got a baby shower invite and this person’s mother-in-law and sister-in-law are throwing it for her. This particular mom just had a kid less than three years ago. She has kept everything from her older kid.

So, isn’t it some kinda social faux pas to have another baby shower?

“Yeah,” she said, “I hate it when people have babies and suddenly their only friends are other people who have kids.”

This is a line I’ve heard often. There’s this attitude amongst the young unmarrieds at my local church that the “Holy Grail of Belonging” is popping out the babies.

I can remember being on the other side of that debate ─ being the one who felt like no one would give me the time of day until I had baby to chest, and another five inches of fat around my waist. It…

Yesterday I did the shopping at the market and noticed a woman there trailing two kids round with her. Dressed in head-to-toe Nike, they whined their way around, putting whatever they felt like in the trolley, and screeching like banshees every time the mother dared to question anything they’d added. I think I spotted some apples in the trolley, but the rest was all pizza, crisps, chocolate, fizzy drinks and other crap. They’d have got more nutrition chewing on their own shoes than eating that weekly shop.

Then they arrived at the electronics department and found…

We use to pick blackberries together, she and I. I didn’t like blackberries, but it was fun picking them along the railroad tracks beside our apartment complex. Our fingers would be stained deep purple, her tongue and lips would match.

She had chubby cheeks and the sweetest smile, made even sweeter by the silver caps in the front. You never see kids with silver caps anymore… I guess they use something else now? We weren’t supposed to walk by the railroad tracks, but my mom didn’t seem to be around much during the day when we…

When my children first walked into the house quickly and stealth-like, and then emerged from the craft room with two pairs of safety scissors, I should have paused to find out what was up. Alas, I was immersed in my baked ravioli recipe and only mildly considered investigating.

Ten minutes and one butchered rosebush later, I had a beautiful centerpiece for my table. (The neighbor who lost her roses still had a full bush left, thank goodness. I checked to be sure.)

After the initial lecture about taking other peoples flowers from their gardens,…