Abby Off the Record — The scoop on life, writing & raising kids

Where Window Boxes Go to Die

August 15, 2012

Every spring, I start out strong. I head to the garden center or the school plant sale with good intentions and a list of annuals. I have cross-referenced my selections with gardening-savvy relatives like my mom or mother-in-law. Impatiens? Shade. Petunias? Full sun. Begonias? Partial sun. After loading what seems like acres’ worth of plants […]

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Flashback Monday: I’m Quitting Summer

August 13, 2012

Hey, what do you know? Last year, at almost the EXACT SAME TIME, I decided I’d had enough of summer. Well, guess what? I’m there again! I had no time to write a new post this weekend since I was busy ferrying the boys to the indoor bouncy place (it rained that day), the park, […]

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A Beary Exciting Adventure

August 10, 2012

My 6yo son had been looking forward to this day for a long time. For weeks, he had been diligently earning stars on his chore chart for such tasks as feeding the dog, putting his clothes in the hamper, and brushing his teeth. He had his eye on the prize – a fuzzy new friend […]

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The Fat Man

August 8, 2012

The boys were splashing in the shallow end of the pool while I stood ankle-deep on the steps, trying not to get wet. We were at my husband’s company picnic at a fancy yacht club. Glossy white boats bigger than our garage bobbed in the sparkling harbor while the hot, humid day ruined any efforts […]

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The Last Class: My Final Writing Classes Start Sept. 5

August 6, 2012

Calling all essay writers and would-be essay writers! I am offering the FINAL SESSION of my long-running classes, Personal Essays that Get Published: Levels 1 and 2, next month. Each 6-week class, conducted via email and open to writers anywhere in the world, starts Weds. Sept. 5 and goes through Oct. 17. All you need […]

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Flashback Friday: Too Much Togetherness

August 3, 2012

It’s been a long week of extended quality time with my offspring and I’m feeling “touchy.” (You’ll get the pun in a second.) So please enjoy this post from my archives. Too Much Togetherness I have a request: can everyone just please stop touching me? Stop poking me when I’m sleeping, stop head-butting me in […]

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The Week I’ve Been Dreading

August 1, 2012

I’m not going to lie: I’ve been dreading this week with a capital D. Because this, my friends, is the one week a year my beloved, hardworking babysitter is on vacation. It’s actually worse than my husband going away on an extended business trip, but don’t tell him that. The funny thing is, it’s not […]

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The Deep End

July 30, 2012

“Mom! Mom! Watch this!” My 6yo’s shouts come from across the pool. FAR across the pool from the deep end, where we have never ventured before. Looking small next to the other swimmers waiting their turn, my son leaps off the end of the diving board, splashes feet-first into the deep, deep water, and dog […]

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Flashback Friday: Summertime and the Livin’ is Crazy

July 27, 2012

Ever have that deja vu, “Groundhog Day” feeling? I do, a LOT. And it’s not just because my memory’s completely shot from lack of sleep. It’s because I actually HAVE lived it before — and I have my blog archives to prove it. Check out this post from 2009. Except for the kids’ ages, my […]

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Board Meeting or School Play?

July 25, 2012

Whenever there are debates about working mothers – say, when a pregnant woman is named CEO of a major internet company – people never fail to bring this up: at some point, all working moms will have to make the tough decision whether to attend the big board meeting or the school play. I’m here […]