Hand-Me-Downs
Amongst other complaints that I heard from a young teenager about his family life was the disgrace he felt having to wear “hand-me-down” clothes.Oh, if he were just the older brother. All of his clothes, I think he called them…
Some Celebrity Glitz
Sidney Clifton, known for her television and film projects that reflect her commitment to telling the truth, empowering the voiceless and being of service, will read selected poems by her late mother, Lucille Clifton, from "The Collected Poems of Lucille Clifton 1965-2010,"…
Asthma is Blowing in The Wind
It’s that time of year when asthma comes crawling from the cracks and crevices, the blowing dust and the floating pollen. If you’re the parent of a child with asthma, you already know what autumn means in your household. If…
Jazz, Poetry, Prison, Politics
Jaylene Moseley, known for tackling sensitive social issues and through the work of Flintridge Center's reintegration project , has been named Honorary Chairperson for Talk About Parenting with Shirlee Smith’s upcoming benefit event – Mothers Behind Bars: The Parent Puzzle. In…
The Dream Marchers
I didn’t join the marchers in Los Angeles earlier this week and neither did any of my children. Well, they’re not children - they are, now, adults.When I asked the eldest if she’d followed the “happenings” on TV that day,…
Just Around The Corner
There’s a giant free home entertainment center waiting for your family to claim ownership. Well, that may be a slight exaggeration because you and your kids only get to take hold of it as a loan. But there shouldn’t be any…
Shopping Sense vs Shopping Cents
This time of year, most parents will spend more time and more money shopping for what their offspring will wear to the school house than they will spend determining how to get the best educational plan for their children. It just…
Back From Quiet
I think the old expression is “Gone but not forgotten.” I’d like to think it; however, I’m sensing that not only have I been gone, but, sad to say, it seems I’ve been pretty much forgotten.That’ll get some kind of response.…
Trying To Figure Out The Math of Justice
Maybe I'm not getting the facts correct, but I've been known to misunderstand things, so this confusion I'm experiencing isn't exactly an anomaly.Readers will no doubt set me straight, as they often do, even when I have a clear vision…
A Country-Time Graduation
“Hm, mmm,” said the kinda-country folk who were sitting way up front attending the first college graduation ceremony in their family.Yup, they were there to witness this momentous occasion. The relatives had come into the city from what seemed like…
The Ability To Breath is Not Promised
Asthma kills," said the doctor with a slow, deliberate, steadfast and extremely serious gaze in his eyes that were staring directly into mine. He never blinked. Brandi said she had a sore throat. "Is it asthma?" I asked, like I…
Mother’s Day is Here
Nope, I'm not going out for brunch or dinner at a favorite restaurant. I'm also going to pass on getting dressed and taking in a theatrical performance. The cast of "Joe Turner's Come and Gone" playing at the Mark Taper…
Jodi Arias Trial Raises Parenting Questions
Thanks to Jodi Arias — the confessed murderer who is on trial for the brutal killing of her ex-boyfriend — Pasadena is known for one more thing. Granted, the idea that Arias filled up a few gas cans at a…
Am I Who My Kids Are?
I've got some highfalutin' friends — pretentious wannabees — who think their kids are too high and mighty to attend Pasadena City College. Uh, no, these darlings weren't accepted at Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford or any of the other top…
Parenting is a Different Ballgame
A closely-held secret month of celebration is March which has, in some states, been declared Parenting Awareness Month.If you live in Texas, you might well be in the dark about this yearly focus, but if either Michigan or California is your…