In my opinion

The handoff: Caring for aging parents instead of growing kids

For years, we spoke endlessly about our children. In phone calls, over coffee, during a weekend breakfast or quick business lunch, the women I call friends shared the details of raising children, the difficulties and joys and, mostly, the relentless work that left us exhausted by 9 p.m.

In my opinion

Fairness, not envy, fuels the income inequality debate

I will spend much of this weekend taming the beast that is my income tax folder, a multi-pocketed file with such handwritten labels as Office Supplies, 1099 and Charity. I keep detailed documentation in order to take every deduction available. Like Mitt Romney, my husband and I will pay Uncle Sam what we owe him but not a penny more come April.

Tebow haters, back off

Now that the Denver Broncos are out of the NFL playoffs, it’s probably a little safer to tiptoe into the controversy that is Tim Tebow.

A senior’s photo is too sexy for the school yearbook

I’ve just spent the morning strolling memory lane. For my job, no less.

In my opinion

End of the world? Mayan doomsday the latest hoax

So here we are in 2012, a new year full of hope and promise. My heart sings with possibilities.

In my opinion

What I learned from my grandchildren in 2011

I’m one of those lucky women who, by the grace of God or economics, lives 10 minutes from her grandchildren. Unlike friends who must board a plane or drive across state to play matriarch, I simply navigate past seven traffic lights to dispense hugs and advice. A blessing, to be sure, but also an opportunity.

Equality is part of the Christmas spirit

If your house is anything like mine, the next few days will be an orgy of food and festivities. I’ll lounge by the Christmas tree, survey the expanse of brightly wrapped gifts, and announce with a satiated grin, “I can’t eat one more thing.”

In my opinion

Study shows moms multitask more

One of my accomplishments this past year was perfecting my ability to do more than one thing at a time — a skill honed in those harried decades of childrearing when getting chores done involved all my fingers and toes and then some. Now I’ve managed yet one more mind-bending feat: I can blow dry my hair at the gym while watching TV news in the mirror.

FAMU hazing death heightens parental worries

Those of us who have sent children to college know that parental worries take a different turn when the kids are off on their own.

In My opinion

Tis the season for family flare-ups

Family is just accident…They don’t mean to get on your nerves. They don’t even mean to be your family, they just are.

Politicians can learn about budgeting from the rest of us

For once, I desperately wanted to be wrong. I wanted to be surprised, bowled over, witness to a new era of shared sacrifice.

Fame trumps expertise in NBC's Chelsea Clinton hire

Ask me to name a television journalist I admire and I won’t pause to answer: Ann Curry. I watch her most every morning on NBC’s Today.