It has been almost three years since we met L.  From day one, I have felt a nagging worry that I am not doing the right things or doing enough for her.
I never felt that way about M, or if I did, those worries have been fleeting.  M and I shared one body; our hearts [...]

Tomorrow, something very exciting is going to happen: I am going to be alone for EIGHT full hours.
Even better than that, I am using those eight blissful hours of solitude to drive to North Carolina to visit a friend.  And get this, NO KIDS are coming with me!  I will be without my children for [...]

L spent today my mom’s house.  She has been going over there for an evening every other weekend and she enjoys spending time there.  Usually, those visits are initiated by my parents.  Mr. A and I use them as date nights.  (Or sometimes we just hang around the house and watch TV.  Yes, we are [...]

My responses, then the commentary, ok?  My kids are almost 3 and just turned 6.
1) In certain circumstances, I already leave my kids alone in the car. Times when I have done this include: when it is very cold outside and I have to run up to the door at M’s school to pick her [...]

In the not so many years since I was a little kid, it seems like parenting norms have changed a lot.
My parents didn’t think anything of leaving me sitting in a car while they ran into a store.  Nor did they seem to stress out over how old I should be when the left me [...]