Reflections

By Trish • July 1st, 2014

Award-winning children’s book author Rose Lewis writes from the heart Published in baystateparent magazine When Rose Lewis traveled to China to meet her 7 1/2-month-old adoptive daughter Ming in 1996, she was excited and apprehensive. It was the culmination of a nine- month adoption process, a journey into parenting that Rose, an older single woman, had determined to embark upon. She knew that adopting a child from another country was, in her words, “a leap of ..read more

The envelope in the mail was hand-addressed from my sister.  My first thought was that this was the next of a series of communications regarding our Dad’s estate. Was I ever wrong. “Was going through Mom’s things and found these. Thought you might like to have them back – hope they brighten your day as much as they did hers,” the written note said. I’ll warn you now, this is going to be sappy. Out tumbled paper-laced heart-cut valentines from the past. My now-17-year-old, ..read more

Published in baystateparent magazine Most of us grew up with the USDA’s food pyramid: a visual manmade wonder to guide us toward making healthy food choices. We were taught we could obtain the pinnacle of health by eating just the right number of servings from various food groups, without more than a nod towards the shape-shifting nature of the pyramid’s groups over the years, or the source of our food itself. Parenting brings with it a whole new dimension to how ..read more

Within minutes of crossing the Boston Marathon finish line yesterday – 15 minutes faster than my usual time – I was elated. It was my 10th Boston Marathon and my best time ever at Boston. I saw my family in the crowded pack of spectators, waved joyfully at them, and crossed the Finish Line. As I was quickly made my way into the Westin Hotel where our Alzheimer’s team runners and family meet every year, the bombs went off. My family ..read more

The Women’s Running Boom – and how it is making moms healthier and happier Published in baystateparent magazine When Susan Smith of Westborough, MA decided to try running as an alternative to her gym workouts in the Spring of 2011, she wasn’t sure what to expect. The fitness director at her gym had been taking a group of women out for short runs to introduce them to the sport. “One day, I said, ‘What the heck, I’m just going to go ..read more

Parents of driving teens: take heart. While Massachusetts is notorious for its aggressive drivers, apparently it is one of the “safest” states in the country in terms of teen driving fatalities. Who knew? According to a recent study by Erie Insurance, Massachusetts’ rate of fatal teen car crashes falls 22 percent below the national rate of 11.3 deaths per 100,000 people. In fact, the “safest” five states (those reporting the lowest deaths per 100,000 people) were all on the Eastern seaboard: New Jersey, ..read more

While the rest of Westborough residents are trying to avoid insects due to the EEE critical threat level, my fifth grader and I are in hot pursuit of all things six-legged, winged, or creepy-crawly. Yes, it’s that time of year for Caleb’s class: The Bug Project.  And it’s due in just one week. The Bug Project requires that my ten-year-old find, identify, and mount (in an aesthetically pleasing way) 20 different varieties of bugs. Of all the scientific field projects my kids have ..read more

I’ve been abducted by the Visa police. It’s horrible, I know. A complete stain to my shopping reputation. Yes, I was declined today – after years and years of faithful, frugal usage of my L.L. Bean Visa card. My card went on SHOPCON 1 – Oh, horror! And from me, the faithful paying merchant – foryears! Never a late payment – never just the minimum. I am a pay-in-full person. It all started innocently enough – perhaps a bit too generous on my part, ..read more

Published in baystateparent Magazine, August 2012 It was the death of Timothy Carty’s brother David that got him to ride his bike 190 miles from Sturbridge to Provincetown, MA in 2009 as part of the Pan-Mass Challenge. David had been battling non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma for ten years until he passed away at age 49 – leaving behind a wife and three young children. “David was my oldest brother [of five siblings]. We were the closest. He was the one I looked ..read more

Published June 2012 in baysyateparent magazine You may have seen them at the Boston Marathon, the barrel-chested father pushing his 125- pound quadriplegic son in a wheelchair, cheered on by fans and fellow runners. Their presence elicits both cheers and tears from bystanders, who witness with awe the dad who has competed with his disabled son in over 1,075 running events in the past 33 years. This past April, Dick and Rick Hoyt completed their 30th Boston Marathon– a ..read more