Caryl Avery

Surely it’s not too much to expect people to calculate the effect of their heedlessness, to be mindful of this absent-mindedness, even to attribute their unwitting assaults to their own half-wittedness. In short, to think before it becomes necessary (or polite) to offer a perfunctory “Sorry.”

By Paige Morrow Kimball

I think of those Blue Tuxedo Pants, and I find comfort in the memory of myself in them. Because when I wore them, I was most myself. Those were the moments I was able to live exquisitely and fully, letting go of the rules that truly don’t define me. And I’m reminded to live that way now. To appreciate each stage of my life and be who I truly am.

By Susan Klatsky Cohen

How to spin out the pleasure of eating a Mallomar? Dunking is an option, of course, but there are more creative ways to dote on them . . .

By Ro Howe

Our long-time contributor Ro Howe, chef/owner of Barraud Caterers, in New York City, had a grim, dour mom. Happily, she acquired several second mothers: the stern but benign Benedictine nuns at her boarding school. Here, in fond memory of the nuns-her-mothers, is a recipe for a real, and comforting, English pudding.

By Toni Myers

Mother did outrageous things—cut the telephone cord when she thought Father had gotten too many calls (you have to be old to understand that this was just not done). She covered our dog Hansy with Chanel No. 5 after he got into the dead fish by the lake water. She drove across state lines to get fireworks in Ohio, setting them off like a maniac in northern Michigan . . .

This Mother’s Day, we share with you the gifts we gave our mothers that, often to our great surprise (and relief), lit up their world. These gifts—some frivolous, some extravagant, some well-planned, others whimsically chosen—would turn out to create lasting memories of our relationships with our mothers.

In this week’s Wednesday 5: Afghan Journalist Najiba Ayubi wins a ‘Courage in Journalism’ Award; a father’s well-intentioned letter to his young daughter about keeping a “man’s interest” turns controversial; the “Great Gatsby” film unearths a myriad of misrepresentations and stereotypes about the 1920s flapper; “Scandal,” as ridiculous as the plots are, works because of cast chemistry; and a poignant video re-imagines a world where hate crimes don’t exist.

By Judith A. Ross

Surprisingly, this feeling of sisterhood wasn’t just limited to my encounters with adult women. The hugs and kisses I received from the 12-year-old daughter of my son’s host family made me feel like a revered and much-loved aunt. And then there was our 10-mile trek to Todra Gorge . . .

By Patricia Yarberry Allen, M.D.

The Kentucky Derby is always the first Saturday of May. I know it is a horse race, but today I was only interested in the filly from New Jersey named Rosie. That would be Rosie Napravnik, the only female jockey in today’s race.

By Roz Warren

A cane sometimes comes in handy. I’ve been using mine to point and gesture. And to close any door or drawer I can’t quite reach. I wave it about for emphasis when I have a point to make, or pretend to thwack anyone who makes a point I disagree with. This week, I’m not just another smart-ass. I’m a smart-ass with a prop.

A hat is the perfect embellishment: it can create an entire look by dramatizing an ensemble; it can disguise a mood in a way that’s more personal and creative than donning a pair of dark shades. And a hat with a brim can serve a more pedestrian need—UV protection!

In this week’s Wednesday 5: Women behind the lens at the recent Tribeca Film Festival; TV shows that hired no women writers in 2011-12; Jenna Lyons takes J.Crew from “ugly duckling to fashion arbiter”; a centenarian, Kathryn Wasserman Davis, dazzles us; and Saudi Arabia launches its first anti-domestic-violence campaign.

The definition of the “modern woman” is constantly shifting. Here at Women’s Voices, we are often asked by our readers what the 40-, 50-, 60 (etc.)-year-old “modern woman” might wear.

In this week’s Wednesday 5: The world’s oldest yoga teacher is a 94-year-old woman; can black women ‘Lean In’ like Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg?; the women of TIME’s 100 most influential people; women are not the only ones to blame for being their worst critics; and a hilarious clip of when TV anchors get a case of the giggles.

I’d be up for sitting in the front at meetings, if I can juggle and make sarcastic remarks. And can I gossip about people as long as I correctly remember their names?