Marriages in the United States are now more likely to end in divorce than to last a lifetime. Recent data shows that more than 50% of first marriages in the U.S. end in divorce. The number is considerably greater for individuals who try to get married again. Economic issues are commonly mentioned as the primary…
Watching a parent struggle with daily tasks or feeling isolated at home can be heartbreaking, and the thought of suggesting a move to a senior living community often feels overwhelming. Yet this conversation, approached with love and patience, can open the door to a vibrant new chapter filled with companionship, enrichment, and the peace of…
To fold an origami crane, you will need a square piece of paper. It does not have to be origami paper. Here are the instructions via a diagram from the U.S. Park Service, though personally, I find the diagrams to be confusing: This is an activity for Barbed Wire Between Us. …
I used the Boston Public Library’s children’s book lists for years when my children were young. We used to read ten picture books every night because picture books worked for all three ages, and my kids expected each book to be outstanding. This meant that I had to seek out award-winning books so as not…
During our Hawaii vacation, I purposely did not bring my computer. Instead, I packed a small watercolor kit with the intention of finishing a sketchbook during that trip. I had watched Taria of Taria’s Sketchy Adventures on YouTube create a beautiful memory book by urban sketching her vacation. I wasn’t able to paint every day,…
For many adult children, starting a conversation about aging and finances with a parent feels like crossing an invisible, uncomfortable boundary. It is hard to accept that the people who raised you and managed the household are entering a vulnerable chapter of their lives. Our natural instinct is to avoid the awkwardness and delay these…
We probably made a mistake by going to the Smithsonian Museum of African American History first. It’s next door. I think it was the soul food meal that put my husband and me into a food coma. Still, we wandered through the museum in search of dinosaurs, and it did not disappoint. They also have…