Beyond Babedom

We're (way) over 40. Deal with it.

Archive for the ‘Family’ Category

Barbie Envy

Thursday, August 10th, 2017

When I was a kid, there was one thing I really, really wanted.

A Barbie doll.

Not the Miss Revlon my parents got me. Not some knock off. I wanted the real thing. Barbie, with her misshapen feet and enormous boobs. But I never, ever got one. [Stop while I wipe away a tear] My parents were so, so terrible to me which is why I grew up to be a terrible, terrible person.

Or not. (more…)

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Posted in Family | 4 Comments »

Thanks, Dad

Thursday, March 23rd, 2017

I just heard that scientists now believe that there’s a big genetic link for depression and that people with parents or siblings who have depression are up to three times more likely to suffer from it.

Daunting numbers  – but is chronic complaining genetic, too? (more…)

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Posted in Family, My Pet Peeves | 3 Comments »

Parents Without Borders

Sunday, October 12th, 2014

What’s worse than a Helicopter Parent? A mourning Empty Nester. You’re getting your life back and you’re in despair? Maybe this is an indication that you were way too involved in your kids’ lives in the first place. (more…)

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Posted in Family | 9 Comments »

Diving In

Tuesday, September 17th, 2013

We all know about helicopter parents – the ones who have managed to create an ever-growing umbilical cord between them and their kids. They drive me crazy, mostly because their kids are either incredibly obnoxious or they’re so super-dependent that I can imagine a future of me taking care of them during my “golden years” of retirement (“Hold on while I get my walker. . . “). But, of course, there is always the other end of the spectrum  –  parents that can barely take the time to notice their kids or, even worse than making  incredibly bad parenting decisions. . . they make none at all. They’re too busy ignoring their kids and counting on anyone and everyone else to pick up the slack – that’s what I call submarine parents. (more…)

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Posted in Family | 9 Comments »

Where Did These Apples Come From?

Thursday, February 7th, 2013

Most of us wait until we’ve lost someone to reminisce about how wonderful they were. This time, I’m not going to wait and I’m going to tell you all about my mother. And while everyone waxes philosophical about how lucky they were to have their own mom, I can honestly say  I’m luckier than most. She’s almost 92 and other than her using a walker (at our insistence), you’d never believe she was over 70. But, to me – and the rest of my sibs – even 70 was a huge gift. You see, all of us expected Mom to be gone long, long ago. (more…)

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Posted in Family | 13 Comments »

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