Parents, My boys are now young adults, but when I read a blogpost by Kari O'Driscoll about "What NOT to Say to a Teen Girl on Thanksgiving", I found myself remembering some very awkward moments around the dinner table from past years. Her first point, which has nothing to do

Years ago, during a performance review at a non-profit, my supervisor wrote the following comment at the end of my self-evaluation,  "Page, you have exceeded my expectations, and, clearly, are adding value to the organization, but I wonder sometimes if you know how to stop and celebrate what you have achieved.  It seems like you

I highly recommend The Organized Mind by Daniel J. Levitin. Since reading it I have changed the way I approach daily tasks and technology. I’ll share some nuggets and strategies I have implemented but encourage you to read the book as it contains a wealth of information. You can also hear Levitin on the Diane Rehm

The school year has begun, and, as parents, we are intensely curious about what is going on in the minds, hearts, and lives of our children during those hours they are away from us.  We try to act nonchalant as we query, "How was your day?", but we are anything

I hauled the Sunday paper in this past weekend.  The back-to-school shopping circulars added heft to the normal weight.  No surprise--even without the tax free holiday weekend.  We're all gearing up for the coming school year whether it be for our kindergartener starting afresh or for our college-bound student leaving home

Many of you know that I have lived for over a decade in an under-resourced neighborhood in Durham.  I love my neighbors and my community.  And I have learned the truth of Aboriginal activist Lilla Watson’s sage axiom, “If you have come to help me you are wasting your time; but

Little known fact: My dad started teaching me how to drive (stick-shift) at age 12 and the first episode was an emotional disaster…for both of us.  I don’t think my Dad had thought this through.  He was introducing me to all aspects of driving (steering, braking and accelerating with a

Have you ever heard the expression, “Guess I gotta pay the piper.”?  It is often used about a situation where a price is paid that is considered too high or unfair, but failing to pay the price often results in dire consequences.  This expression is based on the story of

I was at a family gathering recently.  An elderly relative asked my teenage nephew, "So, what do you want to be when you grow up?"  My nephew looked over at me hoping I'd rescue him from the situation.  I didn't.  But I also recognized the pressure a teen can feel

I was at a Saturday team-building workshop two weeks ago with folks from a non-profit I work with, and in a small group we were invited to write down 5 questions to ask each other.  I received a total of 15 but only had to answer 2 (so it was

Most of you probably don’t know this, but my undergraduate major was geography.  That’s right, geography.  Is it because I love maps?  Well, actually, yes, I do, and my friends and family can tell you that my “go-to” present is always the most recent edition of the Atlas of the

Parents, In a recent essay in the NY Times, Frank Bruni, op-ed columnist and author, exploded the myth that getting into a highly selective school is the key to success later in life. In line with my recent blog, “Parenting and the Sinking of the Essex”, I would like to

Many of us have schedules packed so tight we don’t have room to eat a meal sitting down much less read a novel or go for a long walk. With work, family, friends and other commitments, our days, weeks and months speed by us. It is easy to get caught