Category Archives: Teenagers

Proud and Out in Budapest and Prague

Posted on May 7, 2014 by Susan H. Greenberg

My mother loves cake. Any kind of cake: chocolate, apple, layer, carrot, cream-filled, caramel-glazed, you name it. This is one of the many things I learned–or remembered–on the 10-day trip I recently took through Central Europe with my mother and … Continue reading →

Posted in Grandparents, Parenting, Teenagers, Travel | Tagged , , , | 16 Comments

In Which Mr. 70 Percent Moves Me

Posted on December 3, 2012 by Susan H. Greenberg

I’ve had a lot to process. Mr. 70 Percent has gone all out and gotten himself a new job. In Vermont. And so our gradual withdrawal from civilization continues. We left the New York area in 2005, beaten down by … Continue reading →

Posted in Family life, Kids, Marriage, Neighbors, Parenting, Pets, Reality check, Teenagers | Tagged , , , , , , | 22 Comments

The Lousy Weekend

Posted on September 30, 2012 by Susan H. Greenberg

It was nearing five o’clock on a Friday, and I was looking forward to the weekend: soccer, errands, dinner with friends, the season premiere of Homeland. Then the phone rang. “Mommy?” my daughter said. Her voice sounded shaky. “What happened?” … Continue reading →

Posted in Family life, Kids, Parenting, Reality check, Siblings, Teenagers | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Removing the Names to Protect the Guilty

Posted on September 19, 2012 by Susan H. Greenberg

Apparently I’ve been on a hiatus. In general, if I don’t post for awhile, it probably means one of two things: either someone in my family has done something–possibly involving body art, sexual exploration, illicit substances, and/or the police– that … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogging, Parenting, Reality check, Teenagers, Working motherhood | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Hoping for a Cavity

Posted on June 5, 2012 by Susan H. Greenberg

I  felt a little surge of joy when the dentist recently reported a cavity in one of my 9-year-old’s molars. That’s because I have long suspected she doesn’t always brush her teeth when I send her into the bathroom each … Continue reading →

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

A Day Like Any Other

Posted on May 13, 2012 by Susan H. Greenberg

I didn’t have high expectations for Mother’s Day. That’s because on Friday, Mr. 70 Percent called and asked, “What do you want to do for Mother’s Day?” I was pleased that he had thought of it two full days ahead. … Continue reading →

Posted in Family life, Holidays, Kids, Marriage, Parenting, Reality check, Teenagers | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Good Enough for Grandma

Posted on April 25, 2012 by Susan H. Greenberg

Now I understand why my mother always brushed my bangs out of my eyes before we visited my grandmother. There’s something about seeing your parents that makes you turn a critical eye on your own child-rearing, and nothing says “bad … Continue reading →

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

Throwing My Counterweight Around

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Susan H. Greenberg

One of my key roles as parent is to contradict whatever my children do or say. If a child is feeling blue, my job is to cheer her up; if she’s inexplicably giddy, I make her empty the dishwasher. When … Continue reading →

Posted in Boys will be boys, Family life, Kids, Parenting, Teenagers | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Hypocritical Parenting

Posted on February 6, 2012 by Susan H. Greenberg

I remember the first time I realized my parents didn’t always practice what they preached. We were at the ticket window of a museum, and I heard them ask for two Adult and two Child tickets–even though I was just … Continue reading →

Posted in Family life, Kids, Parenting, Reality check, Teenagers | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Teen’s Best Friend

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Susan H. Greenberg

The first clue that Petco had snookered me again came in the form of a text message from my 16-year-old daughter. It read: “I’m going to take your lack of an answer as yes, I can buy a hamster. Thanks!” … Continue reading →

Posted in Family life, Kids, Parenting, Teenagers | Tagged , | 2 Comments