Pretty soon, your little chick is going to flee the nest and head off to college, for the first or fourth time, and you’ll be heading to Bed, Bath & Beyond for sheets, towels, and all the other necessities she’ll need to live on her own!

You also might want to include some of these in her (or his) luggage, to make her life as stress free as possible.

After all, that’s what parents are for, right?!

FAMILY TIES

Even if he doesn’t display a framed photo of you and his siblings on his dorm dresser, he can stash it in a drawer and sneak a peak when he’s feeling homesick. This frame will also let him see you in action, which makes it that much cooler!   

COMING TO THE RESCUE

Save her from making a mad dash to the drugstore when she cuts her leg shaving in the shower or develops a headache from too much studying.

COOL COPYCAT

Sure, the dorm or library has a printer your kid can use, but just think how much more time he can devote to writing the paper when he can print it right in his room. (more…)

“This is my mother-in-law and me celebrating her 85th birthday. I will be 55 next month. I say keeping moving and have a positive attitude. Thank you for your site,” wrote Renee van der Touw.

The moment we saw the clip we had to ask Renee to tell us more about herself and her MIL.

Birthday girl Gloria, a former librarian, traveled the world, taught music, and is an expert on birds. As if that’s not enough, she’s also a modern dancer who performed in the 60s and 70s  at the famous Fillmore West in California. “She used to hang with Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters,” Renee said. Ed. Note: Writer Kesey wrote One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest and was a wild and wooly guy tied into the psychedelic 60s. (more…)

We asked you how often your adult children call to say hello, and simply to check if everything is okay, and we learned that some of your ‘kids’ are saints and others, not so saintly. When you read about Alicemary Devln’s son, you just might want him as your own!

“Mine do all the time. I have three girls but I did have four. One passed away, but she called. They are so good to me.”
Shirley Santos O’Hara Clark

“Never. I used to call mine several times a week and visit them all the time. True they lived close but it doesn’t matter. Hubby would call his parents at least once a week as well, and they lived about four hours away. Sometimes months go by without hearing.”
Claudia Sheldon Cizin (more…)

At last, your “child” is moving out of your house, into his own place, and you can’t wait to be enveloped in peace and quiet. Not so fast! Unless you arm him with some practical advice before he’s out the door, chances are he’ll be back at your door sooner than you think.

1. Leave an extra set of keys with us (because we know how forgetful you can be).

2. Don’t use a stepladder unless someone is there to spot you.

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When we asked if you have a ‘favorite’ child, many of you diplomatically said they’re all your favorites. Destiny offered the cleverest answer of all! And Patti’s definitely was insightful.

“I have a favorite. It changes all the time. But yes. LOL”
Destiny Walser Head

“I would like to say, ‘I hope not,’  but I think some do. Each of mine is my favorite for different reasons; be it in their accomplishments, or because of their heart. I love them equally and am blessed to call them, ‘MINE’.”
Paulette Greyn

“Calling a child a favorite has no bearing on the amount of love you feel for all your children. I love all four of my children equally, it’s limitless. I am, however, closest to my second oldest. We just have a stronger bond. As simple as that.”
Geri Show-Gilbert

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“When I was pregnant with my son, I felt him move for the first time when we were traveling on the Greek Island of Crete. It was only a fluttery feeling, but I knew what it meant, and it was thrilling,” remembered Geri Brin, founder of FabOverFifty. Here are some other great, and not so great, memories of being pregnant.

“The best part was finally hearing the words ‘You are pregnant’ after 5+ years of trying and being told I would probably never be able to. The worst part was the terrible heartburn I had with both my pregnancies. But, all in all, both my pregnancies were some of the most wonderful times of my life! Feeling your baby move inside of you is a feeling that can’t be described. I also found that creating life is truly a miracle.”
Dee Ann Kennemer McFalls

“My last pregnancy was over 3 months early. The bad part is that I was nauseated before I even knew I was pregnant – 30 minutes before I had them. Also, everyone thought they were my grandchildren. The best part was feeling the rollercoaster of them moving and kicking each other! Yes, they are all perfect!”
Karen Anderson Warren (more…)