My earliest memories involve books. Ramona Quimby and I lounged together on hot summer afternoons. Judy Blume and I learned to see the world in exciting, complex ways. As I grew up, Judy and I took different trips – ones that surprised and touched me. Then Nora Roberts took over. She helped me believe in magic. Stephen King showed me a whole different world of magic – and how to root for a character right up until the moment they are killed. But John Updike took me on a journey that, twenty-eight years later, I still recall with vivid clarity. So I scanned my bookshelves for my top ten all-time…

Contributed to New Orleans Mom I agree that social media should not be all-consuming, nor should it actively influence how I feel when I’m not “plugged in.” So I dug deep into my therapy toolkit and set boundaries that keep me from going down rabbit holes or getting lost in the comments. Here are my top seven.

Contributed to New Orleans Mom The you of today is not the same “pre-quarantine” you. This new you is resilient. Capable. Strong. Even in the face of darkness, even if you think you are screwing up, you are getting up and going again. You are facing every day because there is no choice. It’s not exactly a hopeful message, but it’s an accurate one.

Contributed to New Orleans Mom It’s getting a bit tense. I saw you in yoga this morning, brows furrowed even as you reluctantly allowed yourself an hour of peace. I passed you in the grocery with your shoulders near to your ears, chewing on your lip because you can’t touch your face. I got your text, and what it said, and more importantly what it didn’t say, what was in between the words.