Author Archives: Susan H. Greenberg

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About Susan H. Greenberg

Susan H. Greenberg spent 22 years as a journalist for Newsweek Magazine. She now works as a writer, editor, teacher, and parent of three children, with whom she strives always to maintain a varnish-free relationship.

Music to My Ears

Posted on December 29, 2011 by Susan H. Greenberg

I’m still struggling to comprehend it, but my 16-year-old daughter asked for–and received–the same thing for Christmas that I wanted when I was her age: a new turntable. I honestly didn’t know they made them anymore. She had been poking … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogging, Family life, Kids, Teenagers | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Magic is Gone. Or is It?

Posted on December 21, 2011 by Susan H. Greenberg

It’s been a sobering week: we bid farewell to both the Tooth Fairy and Santa. First my 9-year-old daughter lost two teeth. When I suggested she put them under her pillow for you-know-who, she flopped around on her bed and, … Continue reading →

Posted in Family life, Kids, Parenting, Reality check | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Procrastination with Friends

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Susan H. Greenberg

Has anyone else noticed that “Words with Friends” has hit a critical tipping point? I was hunched over my iPhone at the grocery store yesterday, desperately trying to land my K on a triple letter space, when the teenager behind … Continue reading →

Posted in Family life, Kids, Parenting, Teenagers | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Making a List

Posted on December 7, 2011 by Susan H. Greenberg

Of the many things I dislike about December, presents rank right near the top. Partly that’s because we, a mixed-faith family (half Jewish, half Christmas), celebrate everything, so the excesses are head-spinning. But I also remain vastly insecure about who … Continue reading →

Posted in Family life, Kids, Parenting, Reality check | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Gossiping With My Girl

Posted on November 27, 2011 by Susan H. Greenberg

While I was getting dressed for Thanksgiving dinner, I overheard an alarming conversation between my husband and my 16-year-old daughter. It went something like this: Daughter: “Dad, have you watched the latest Gossip Girl yet?” Mr. 70 Percent: “Yes! I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in Family life, Kids, Parenting, Reality check, Teenagers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Nothing Two Advil Won’t Cure

Posted on November 17, 2011 by Susan H. Greenberg

When my son first told me his head hurt after football practice, I offered my standard response: “I’m sure it’s nothing; take two Advil.” By now, I should know better. I have given this erroneous assessment at least a dozen … Continue reading →

Posted in Boys will be boys, Family life, Kids, Parenting, Reality check, Working motherhood | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Honey, I Lost the Kids

Posted on November 8, 2011 by Susan H. Greenberg

I was up around Franconia, New Hampshire, on what my family always refers to as “yet another” girls’ weekend (while I typically preface it with “sorely needed”) when I committed a grave error. I texted my husband with a simple … Continue reading →

Posted in Family life, Kids, Parenting, Travel | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

The Scariest Halloween

Posted on October 31, 2011 by Susan H. Greenberg

There’s no trick-or-treating in Snowville tonight. In my house, we couldn’t even enjoy our rare uncontroversial family tradition of pumpkin carving, which Mr. 70 Percent and I started long before we ever heard the splitter-splat of baby spit-up on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Family life, Kids, Parenting | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

The Go-Between

Posted on October 26, 2011 by Susan H. Greenberg

My 16-year-old and I recently enjoyed a very 21st century mother-daughter outing: we made a pilgrimage to the Apple store to purchase the new iPhone 4S. (Each of us was using a phone with a screen so shattered it routinely … Continue reading →

Posted in Family life, Kids, Parenting, Teenagers | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

The Things I Shouldn’t Have Said

Posted on October 17, 2011 by Susan H. Greenberg

It was on 6 x 9 that I snapped. We had been over it dozens, maybe hundreds, of times. “52?” she’d say. “No, 56!” I could swear she’d had her math facts down cold by the end of 3rd grade, … Continue reading →

Posted in Family life, Kids, Parenting, Reality check | Tagged , , | 7 Comments