Author Archives: Susan H. Greenberg

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.

A World Without Jobs

Posted on October 6, 2011 by Susan H. Greenberg

Of course I’m sorry that Steve Jobs is gone. I enjoy Apple products as much as anyone. More important, he was far too young–56–and lived the kind of unconventional, multi-faceted, follow-your-bliss life we should all aspire to. In addition to … Continue reading →

Posted in Family life, Kids, Parenting, Teenagers | Tagged Apple, computers, Steve Jobs | 1 Comment

Magazines & Marriage

Posted on October 3, 2011 by Susan H. Greenberg

The middle school magazine drive ends tomorrow, and I have so far successfully managed to hide the forms from my order-happy husband. It’s not that I have anything against school fundraisers–well, wait a minute; that’s not true. I despise school … Continue reading →

Posted in Family life | Tagged inept husband, magazine drive, magazines, school fundraisers | 7 Comments

Make Room on the Mantle

Posted on September 27, 2011 by Susan H. Greenberg

Apparently I’ve been granted a Versatile Blogger award, which sounds suspiciously like something a blogger like me (ie severely lacking in readers, impact and lucrative corporate sponsorships) would invent to boost her profile. The only reason I even found out … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogging, Reality check | Tagged Versatile Blogger award | 8 Comments

License to Run Errands

Posted on September 22, 2011 by Susan H. Greenberg

If you’re wondering why there are so many horrendous drivers on the road, I’ve got the answer: it takes exactly six minutes to pass a driving test. At least that’s how long it took my daughter–the one who, en route … Continue reading →

Posted in Family life, Parenting, Reality check, Teenagers | Tagged driver's test, RMV, teen driving | 9 Comments

Like School, But Worse

Posted on September 12, 2011 by Susan H. Greenberg

“Nobody likes going to religious school,” I tell my youngest daughter whenever she complains about going to Hebrew school, which is twice a week. “It doesn’t matter if they have to go to CCD or Sunday School or a madrassah. … Continue reading →

Posted in Family life, Kids, Parenting, Reality check | Tagged concentration camp, Hebrew school, Jewish heritage, religious school | 5 Comments

The Places Our Car Has Been

Posted on September 6, 2011 by Susan H. Greenberg

My husband and I tend to see eye to eye on the big issues that can make or break a marriage: politics, music, child-rearing, operating systems, sports teams. However, there is one area of dispute, religion and foreign films notwithstanding, … Continue reading →

Posted in Family life, Parenting, Travel | Tagged ACK, ADK, B&J's, bumper stickers, family vacation, MV, SCNST, WT | 9 Comments

A Family Vacation With Someone Else’s Family

Posted on August 29, 2011 by Susan H. Greenberg

The biggest disadvantage of having three kids covering a seven-year age span is that it is virtually impossible to find a family activity that makes everyone happy. Movie night, for instance, means either the 9-year-old hides her eyes during Pulp … Continue reading →

Posted in Family life, Kids, Parenting, Reality check, Travel | Tagged board games, Chappaquiddick, family entertainment, family vacation, Hurricane Irene, Martha's Vineyard | 3 Comments

There’s No Place Like Camp

Posted on August 22, 2011 by Susan H. Greenberg

Usually when the kids arrive home after being away, we enjoy a brief honeymoon period: they are engaged, chatty, appreciative, helpful and pleasant. Not this time. My 16-year-old daughter returned yesterday after four weeks of being a junior counselor at … Continue reading →

Posted in Family life, Kids, Parenting, Reality check, Teenagers | Tagged leaving the kids, Mt. Washington, separation, sleepaway camp, Wizard of Oz | 7 Comments

The Back-to-School Build Up

Posted on August 15, 2011 by Susan H. Greenberg

I love that old Staples commercial that shows a father gleefully filling a shopping cart with school supplies, kicking his heels to the strains of “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” while his kids mope along behind. I, … Continue reading →

Posted in Family life, Kids, Parenting, Reality check, Working motherhood | Tagged back to school, Kohl's, Old Navy, school supplies, Staples, summer reading | 10 Comments

Rattlesnakes, Spiders and Bears

Posted on August 9, 2011 by Susan H. Greenberg

Oh my. My son returned home from a two week backpacking trip in the Blue Ridge mountains with some harrowing tales to tell, along with a smelly piece of freshly-killed-rattlesnake skin. A more anxious mother might have banned him from … Continue reading →

Posted in Boys will be boys, Parenting, Teenagers, Travel | Tagged backpacking, bears, brown recluse spiders, hiking, Overland Adventures, rattlesnakes, wildlife | 2 Comments