Family

For many women of a certain age, taking on the full-time responsibility of a pet can be out of the question. Despite the well-documented advantages that pets have on relieving loneliness and isolation, their care and feeding can add up to a significant expense…

I clearly remember the day the job of grandmothering started. My daughter walked in from the kitchen, carrying a dish of lasagne. She put it down on the table. She stood up and cleared her throat. ‘We have some news for you,’ she said…

I didn’t expect to get divorced in my 60s. We met at 47, and this was our second marriage for both of us. I often described my husband as the most gentle and caring man I’ve ever known. We had an easy rhythm; conflicts were discussed, not yelled about. Our routines were not unusual…

Have you prioritized your health during your divorce? Most women would answer no. With the overwhelm and emotions from divorce, the last thing many of us think about is our health. We have a long history of taking care of everyone else, but not ourselves…

In a world where everything comes with an enormous price tag, I’ve made a deliberate choice not to charge my six kids rent to live at home. It’s not because I’m against teaching responsibility or preparing them for adulthood. It’s because I believe in giving them the kind of support…

If you love dogs, you’ll understand how strongly I feel about the responsibility that comes with dog ownership. The last thing you want to do is bring home a puppy just because they have a cute face. Yes, I understand. Puppies are ADORABLE. However, they also come…

Faith, a caring mother in her 60s, faced one of the hardest challenges of her life. Her 51-year-old daughter and 18-year-old grandson were living with her. Although Faith loved them deeply, their presence created ongoing stress and constant conflicts in her home. Over time…

Do you ever stop and think what make a good marriage good? I don’t think about it often, especially as I have been married for what seems like forever. (I got married when I was 21, with little enthusiasm from my parents – who could blame them? – and yet here we are 62 years […]

One morning back when I was in my mid-50s, I realized two things… the first was that I had no good female friends. I mean, I had acquaintances. People who would be happy to jump in and help if I needed it. But no one I could call and chat with about my feelings…

When I first started my Health and Financial Wellness (HFW) for Women group here in Phoenix about nine years ago, I asked the initial gathering of women which topics they would most want to learn more about. Most of the women attending were in their 60s and many were retired…