By Susan Soriano
My late mother, Marcelina, wasn’t a wild thing, but she had heart and she had grit. She could snake clogged pipes, wring the neck of a bound-for-supper chicken—and brag about being the only hospital worker on her shift to give a big hug to the AIDS patient in the corner room.
Ro’s Recipes: In Praise of Mothers, Nuns, and Toffee Pudding
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.
Growing Up with Scarlett O’Hara
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 . . .
Fashion Friday: To Mom, with Love from Your Daughter
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.
Inheriting an 88-Year-Old Mother-in-Law
By Diane Dettmann
Standing in my bedroom, dressing for my retirement party, I heard a tiny voice filtering down the hallway and through the door. I hobbled into the living room; my eyes landed on a petite lady, dressed in a blue suit, relaxing in our swivel rocking chair. She smiled at me. My first thought was, “Oh my God, that’s my future mother-in-law!”
Dr. Ford on Emotional Health: Depression “Without a Reason”
By Cecilia M. Ford, Ph.D.
“After my menstrual cycles began to change, I became more volatile, needed more sleep, and, for no reason, would sink into an emotional pit: feeling hopeless, having trouble concentrating, and not knowing how to climb out of the pit.” What should I do?
Loving My Mother Too Late
By Jennifer Cheyne
Somehow, working two jobs, my mother—widowed at 23—raised her three girls. We had a TV set and a house in a safe neighborhood and got educations and survived long enough to hate her for all that she wasn’t.
Wednesday 5: ‘Courage in Journalism’ Awards, Misrepresentation of the ‘Flapper,’ and Cast Chemistry on ‘Scandal’
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.
Beyond the Hijab: Woman to Woman in Morocco
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 . . .
Dr. Pat Consults: When Surgical Menopause Turns Out to Be “Really Hell”
By Patricia Yarberry Allen, M.D. and Wulf H. Utian, M.D., Ph.D.
Dr. Patricia Yarberry Allen is a collaborative physician. Today, she calls on the expertise of reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Wulf Utian to counsel a 37-year-old woman suffering pain and depression after a complete hysterectomy.
Poetry Sunday: Star Black, Grown-up
In [Screened], poet, photographer, and teacher Star Black turns her lens toward her youth, never relaxing her grip on the reality of adolescence.
Derby Day: Rosie Runs For The Roses
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.
It’s a Different World When You Walk with a Cane
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.
Fashion Friday: Hats!
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!
‘Women’s Voices for Change’: Celebrating Women in the Second Half of Life
By Gail Sheehy
Now we are 6, and our site, “Women’s Voices for Change” has broadened its vision beyond its original mission—debunking the universal myths about menopause—to celebrating the power and wisdom of women in the second half of life.
