Step into a dream

Am I offending you if I say that I don’t like to celebrate International Women’s Day? Premise: political correctness is not my suit. Or any political notions: I prefer to value and celebrate those that inspire me based on their achievements rather than their biological (or psychological) attributes. Being one of the flagship holidays of the communist era when I was a child back in Ukraine (at the “falling-apart” stage of the Soviet Union) – this particular holiday always left a fake aftertaste in a mouth to even a greater degree than the rest: sounds like a good idea, never…

Do you believe that everything is for the best? Our skiing trip put that idea severely under scrutiny. Our trip started in the severest blizzard we’ve seen in years. In the middle of the night, 10 miles away from our final destination, we get stuck observing the magnificent rear of an Amazon truck for a couple of hours. Nothing! – neither a shovel from a friendly Amazon truck driver, nor friendly passer-by drivers could get us driving. Reading and singing to help kids relax – well passed midnight! – hardly brought any soothing to anybody’s anxiety. Hours later, on a…

GIft-giving with kids: save yourself from disappointment and embarrassment!Just like you, I’d spend days agonizing over a perfect gift for every single one of my children, and, literally be holding my breath, as each of my dear preciousness uncovers it from the holiday wrappers. Or, better yet, I’d wrap it “from grandma” – I am blessed with a mom who trusts me to pick something kids really want… as far as I can guess.… the wrappers are coming off…… long awaited expensive-catchy-pretty-special-amazing new gismo or toy comes out…… and gets anxiously tossed at the side. Oh, the spoiled little brat! He…