As of Memorial Day 2011, I have a 9-year-old. Holy cow. This is the last year that my oldest son, Addison, will turn a single digit. Next year he’ll hit the big 1-0. The scary thing for me right now is that I clearly remember being "ten." I remember the camaraderie I felt with my softball teammates, the fun I had at summer camp, the invigorating feeling of the cold 'crick' water as I searched for crayfish, and the arguments I had with my parents about getting my ears pierced. I could never have imagined being a parent at that age, but here I am with a 9-year-old who’s doing many of the same …
This column may not be popular with everyone, but I write what’s on my heart. At this time, I feel this must be said. We teach this concept to our two little boys, but I think some adults have missed this lesson. As Thumper quotes in the classic Disney film “Bambi,” – “If you can’t say somethin’ nice, don’t say nothin’ at all.” Everyone knows the saying, so why is it so hard to follow? With on-line media such as Patch and other websites like Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and blogs, people seem to think it’s OK to log in under false names and attack others. In my opinion, things are starting to…
A wise person once said, “Put your marriage first. By giving it the attention it needs, your children will get the attention they need.” Easier said than done, right? Once kids enter the picture, we’re lucky to get through the days with our sanity, never mind worrying about the affection we’re doting out to our spouses. After all, there are diapers to change and bottles to wash. Sexy. Those days of giving each other attention are history. Or are they? Once upon a time, before we had children, my husband and I spent endless hours sitting in the grass on cozy picnic blankets, reading to each …
Every morning when I wake up, I read a daily selection from “The Best of Life’s Little Instruction Calendar” which sits on my nightstand. A message I read last week really affected me. This is what it said: “Hold your child’s hand every chance you get. The time will come all too soon when he or she won’t let you. How sadly true is that? I’m mom to 8-year-old and 3-year-old boys, and already I’m finding this to be the case. I think I’ve been in denial. But this little two-sentence blurb stirred something in me. I’ve seen it happening; I didn’t want to admit it. My older son will barely give me…
In some small towns across our country, there are places that stand out as being the “hot spots,” gathering places where community is the focus. In this day and age of big box stores, chains and franchises, the concept of the independent business is beginning to fade. It’s a very sad thing, not just for the small business owners, but also for the people in those communities. I debated about writing about the closing of “The Perk” in Emmaus, but to me, it’s comparable to losing a friend or loved one. It is something that has greatly affected me this week, and I have a feeling there are others …
When I think of maple syrup, visions of cold, dense New England forests come to mind. I see flannel-clad woodsmen traversing the undeveloped rolling mountains of a place much different from our own Lehigh Valley. Little did I know of the sweet possibilities that exist within the state of Pennsylvania!Since 1999, my husband and I have escaped to a little-known destination called Hills Creek State Park, a 407-acre park located in north central PA near Wellsboro.The PA state park system is phenomenal and was recently awarded the honor of being the best in the nation. Hills Creek is just one of …
It’s been such an amazing week, so first and foremost, I would like to write a special thanks to everyone who made my “21st” birthday such a special one. It really was fantastic!As is the tradition for the Holtzhafer clan, Shady Maple is always on the birthday agenda. Flash your license at the Shady Maple cashier and your meal is FREE! Plus you get some great birthday coupons to use in the complex including free giant whoopie pies. “If it’s free, it’s for me,” is our favorite motto.My special day fell on a Monday this year, which meant my husband and older son weren’t able to join me for a …
I write this column with a box of tissues and a hot cup of tea with honey on my desk. As fate would have it, I’ve succumbed to the illness that has run rampant in my home this past week. But moms don’t get sick, at least that’s what I tell myself. I couldn’t possibly have a cold. It just can’t be. Other moms will agree that with the responsibilities we take on each week, there’s just no time for sickness. It’s not an option. I reminisce about the days when I could be sick and stay in bed for days with not a care in the world other than what homework I had to make up. Mom would bring me warm …
