Over the past week, Ive been reflecting on the Fourth of July. Ava seems to enjoy the celebration more and more with each passing year. This year, I tried to explain what all the hoopla was about… and subsequently realized that I need a refresher in American history. The holiday celebrates the birth of our country, I said.

Not too long ago, one of Avas little friends shared a secret with me, My mommy says that Ava gets whatever she wants. Some parents may take offense to this, but its not exactly untrue.

I can do bruises and bile. But I cant do dismemberment, which is how I regard baby teeth when they fall from a childs head.

Whenever I come home to visit my parents, Mom wants me to help her unload the stuff shes managed to collect in the 37 years theyve lived in their house–stuff that she may need one day. Last Christmas, we tackled her five closets of clothes. It was a cacophony of timeless pieces that Mom couldnt part with; most items Mom would defend by saying, But I never even wore it! That doesn …

I understand the concern surrounding the soft play at the mall. Any place that breeds a virus called hand, foot and mouth disease is no place for children. The soft play is alarmingly similar to a public restroom: its free, smells, and gets cleaned once a day (though whoever sees that happen?). But kids wash with hand sanitizer, run barefoot, zip down slides with squishy soiled diapers, and inevitably lick the 3-foot tall apple–just to see.