Families

“I taught my 8 year old daughter how to use our remote to turn on Netflix Kids (only my 11-year-old knows how to use it), and left out cereal bars and bananas for breakfast.” Nancy J. Horn, New York mom of three.

When my ex and I decided to divorce, I was overcome with fear and sadness at the thought of living part time without my two children. Could it be possible for my soon-to-be ex and I to remain in the same home for the sake of parenting our kids even though we couldn’t stand the sight of one another?

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Dear Elementary School,

We forget so quickly how to be in the moment, and what it boils down to is whether we are truly invested in the precious time we have with other people. Are we here now, or somewhere else?

Now I’m not jumping on the bandwagon of women not having kids as some sort of comment on society or being rebellious about social expectations. It’s not like those reasons aren’t valid, but they are just not mine. When my dad mentions kids and then laughs when I say I’m not interested, I don’t get angry. Because in all honestly, I can’t say that I’m a definite on not having kids for life, I am only twenty-three. But this feels like the right decision, so I’m definite with the idea right now in the moment.

Everybody who’s a parent can attest to the fact that the lives they once knew are far behind them.

My mom and I are extremely close. Some would say we’re a little too close, but since she fills two roles in my life — mother and best friend — I think it’s fair that she get a double slice of my love and attention. I was completely devastated when she announced that she was moving to Dubai. But now, my mother has lived abroad for more than two years, and I can see that her move was a good thing.