I haven’t written here in a while because the last piece I wrote sparked major lash-back from my in-laws. You see, they thought I was stirring up drama about their family, when the truth is, I wrote No Room For Favoritism because I have seen first hand what favoritism can do to a child who…
No Room For Favoritism
I’ve never been under the illusion that being a parent would be easy, or that I would be super great at it, or that it would even come naturally for me. When my second child was born, eight years after the first, I wondered how I could possibly love two separate beings equally. Then the…
Fat Summer’s Guide to Decision Making in Early Adulthood
Today marks 15 years since Patti LaBelle’s hit song, Lady Marmalade, was remade by Christina Aguilera, Mya, Lil’ Kim, & Pink. I watched the video this morning, reminiscing about those days long ago when it first came out, how much I absolutely loved the remake, and that four of my favorite artists had come together to…
My Life is the Culmination of Many Decisions Based Upon Fear
I’ve come to realize recently that I’ve made most of the decisions in my life from a place of fear. I’m not an overly fearful person, I’m not a worrier really, so trying to wrap my brain around this adjective as one that describes me has been an exhausting journey. I guess the best way…
The One Where I Admit I’m an Addict & Beg For Your Help
If this is the first time you’ve heard about the fact that sugar has the same effect on your brain as cocaine, you might be living under a rock. Either that, or you’re in denial that the sweet, sticky substance we all love to nosh on is terribly bad for you and highly addictive. As…
My Mind is a Graveyard of Great Ideas
I am one of the luckiest people in the world. Sure life is crazy and things don’t always go my way. Sure, having a life worth living is a constant decision of YES, I’m going to make this thing happen, but I’m really lucky, especially where friends are concerned. A photo posted by Summer…
Marriage is Messy
I come from a family who has treated divorce kind of like car buying. One of my parents has been married the same number of times as the number of arms an octopus has. Another has been married the same number of times as people in my immediate family. I’m on my second marriage. Yep, it’s true. My…
The Key to Happiness is . . .
I want you to stop and think for a minute, about the things that make you happy. What is it for you? What gives you that bubbly, my cup runneth over feeling of happiness? If your answer was of something tangible, I want you to listen closely. Try to follow along the best you can….
I Hear Voices & They’re Loud, Obnoxious, and Difficult to Ignore
I’ve never been diagnosed schizophrenic, but some days I wonder. I’m not overly paranoid or anything, but I talk to myself – a lot. Maybe that’s just a function of being a creative, but I spent a lot of my youth making up songs when someone would walk in the room and catch me ranting…
When it’s Just Not Meant to Be
Like the wind, people come and go into our lives on a daily basis. Some of those people touch us and become close to us and change the trajectory of our lives. Others are consistent, like your favorite cashier at the grocery store, but beyond superficial niceties and some care that the person looks happy…