No wonder it’s so noisy around here. Read more

The other day, I was walking toward the reflective outer wall of a grocery store, and I knew that, in a few steps, I’d get a full view of just exactly what I look like — a much more accurate view than what I see in the mirror, because I’m so used to the mirror view, I don’t really know what I’m seeing, you know? And I was feeling very fat, so I didn’t want to look up.  And then... Read more

Because the Register is a fine paper, but doesn’t print nearly enough pee jokes. Read more

What are we hoping to preserve? Read more

Leisure, the basis of culture.   Read more

Contradictions in modern parenting, or two sides of the same coin? Read more

There used to be a TV commercial that asked, “If your house could speak, what would it say?”  I think they were selling exterior stain, or a home security system or something.  Everyone’s houses were saying things like, “This family understands love” or “Security happens under this roof.” Well, this is what I found in my bathroom yesterday: I think my house is saying, in a sort of pleading whisper, ” . . . Truce?” If your house could speak,... Read more

You know what’s weird, and a little alarming?  I often don’t realize what I’m thinking about until I reread several posts I’ve already published.  Today’s post, how you shouldn’t feel bad if you got prematurely giddy over Katie Holmes, is one of a several about being less cynical and more hopeful.  I guess I should get on that! Somebody please warn me if I write three times or more about cutting hair. Read more

So, because Boston and surrounding towns are designed to utterly confuse, confound, baffle and frustrate the typical driver of a 15-passenger van who has just spent the last five hours in 90-degree heat with nine children at the zoo and now would like to go home but can’t because SOMEHOW WE’RE IN A ROUNDABOUT AGAIN, we decided that we would just find the first restroom that came along, rather than trying to figure out where we were first. There was... Read more

“There’s having a nice time with the kids, and there’s accomplishing something, and never the twain shall meet.” Faith and Family Live reprinted my 2009 article about gardening with kids, and how to do it without strrrrrrrangling anybody. Read more