I’ve Been Thinking … A Son’s Lessons from Caregiving

My 86-year-old Mother is a retired teacher and real estate agent. Three years ago she was diagnosed with dementia and she is now in the mid stages of the disease. For various reasons my brother and sisters are unable to directly care for her, so the responsibility has become mine along wi...

I’ve Been Thinking … A Mindful Approach to Overcoming Postpartum PTSD

When I was diagnosed with PTSD, I was limping through life. Everyday activities that I’d done a thousand times were suddenly excruciatingly difficult, like getting out of bed or taking the dog for a walk. Once my brother came over and said I looked like I needed some fresh air and that we ...

I’ve Been Thinking…What Mother’s Day Means to Me

A friend of mine, whose mother recently died after years of dementia, told me that toward the end she allowed herself a rare moment of vulnerability with her mother. They had always had a challenging and difficult relationship, one marked by disdain and indifference on her mother’s part. B...

I’ve Been Thinking … Motherhood and Faith

This essay by Savannah Guthrie was adapted from a recent speech she gave at a Catholic luncheon.   Motherhood and faith go together. I couldn’t do one without the other. You need faith to get through motherhood. Wine helps. But faith is crucial. Motherhood tells us everything w...

I’ve Been Thinking … Adoption Becomes a Reality

Blogger Kari Wagner-Peck, MSW, and her husband, Ward, decided to adopt a foster child late in life. In her first book Not Always Happy, Kari chronicles the emotions the couple experienced while going through the adoption process and raising their son, Thorin, who has Down syndrome. Below...

Mother-Daughter Activist Duo Discover That Life is a Journey of Passion and Purpose

After discovering that her 9-year-old daughter Hudsyn was unhappy attending traditional school and that her spirit was melting, Erin Toppenberg decided to offer her daughter home-based 'lifeschool, the ability to choose how and what she learns based on what is in her heart. Through their non...

A Mother’s Love and Legacy to Her Sons

Some say there’s no bond like the one a mother has with her son. Given the close relationship that I have with my mother, and the close relationship that my fiancée Nick has with his mother, I believe that statement to be true. Needless to say, we are both self-proclaimed “mama’s boys...

Maria’s Sunday Paper: Conversations Around My Kitchen Table

My kitchen table is always a busy place. (Not as busy as newsrooms or the White House were this week, but pretty busy nonetheless.) I love family, I love food, and I love to invite people into my home to sit with me at my table. Oftentimes, I invite friends of mine or people I've met th...

Kentucky Man Fights for the Rights of the Aging and Elderly

As a member of the Kentucky Institute on Aging, Jeff Rubin is a vocal advocate for the elderly who believes that every individual has the right to be heard and the power to make a difference regardless of their ability or age. He is also the author of Wisdom of Age: Perceptions and insights...

I’ve Been Thinking … Regaining My Faith

Five months pregnant and on a flight to Seattle in 2015, Allison Pataki's seemingly healthy, 30-year-old husband, Dave Levy, suffered a sudden and massive stroke. Following an emergency landing, Dave was rushed to the hospital. When he awoke, he had severe memory loss with brain damage and w...