Mary Novaria

A viral tweet from a millennial woman has sparked a debate about, of all things, bed linens.  Millennials* have been accused of killing off all kinds of things , including doorbells (because texting) and beer (in favor of wine and weed). Tweeter JesseLynn, a recent college grad has thrown down the gauntlet, laying claim to her generation’s cultural omnipotence, by declaring her cohort has killed off the top sheet. Yes, that smooth, flat rectangle of Egyptian cotton or percale that goes between you and your blanket or comforter has been deemed superfluous. It’s reminiscent of my college sweetheart (now my husband) who eschewed all sheets until I began to, ahem , stay over, and insisted upon a properly made bed. Never mind that the faded brown sheets, with a matching comforter, were a vestige from boyhood. They sported giraffes and zebras, so I dubbed them the “jungle sheets.” Maybe it’s a decent life hack. Millennials are a long way from menopau...

As seen in Lessons for a struggling empty nester,  from a family of eagles By Mary Novaria   May 22 (iStock) They called it an “accidental fledge.” The 73-day-old bald eagle wasn’t expected to make his first flight for at least another week or two, but while hopping on branches around the nest and flapping his wings, the eaglet slipped, fell to the ground and sent thousands of online viewers into a panic. Was he injured? Would he be safe on his own? Will he ever come back to the nest? And, when nightfall came and he had yet to return, Was he alive? These are the very same questions I asked when my depressed and anxious teenage daughter ran away from home and, later, when she moved out on her own. Even now that she is healthy, married and in her twenties, I am sometimes tempted to ask them because I am a fledgling when it comes to this empty nest thing. Continue reading here...

Have you ever had a conversation with someone that stayed with you long after the talking was over? Or maybe, sometime down the road, you recalled a piece of wisdom or advice and realized it had made an impact on you? Just this morning a friend shared she was working hard to find silver linings. Yes! I thought. Thank you for reminding me to stay grateful and focus on the positive. I bet if I paid close enough attention, I’d hear many things worth taking to heart and many opportunities to say, “So glad they told me!” In fact, a viral essay and a #SoGladTheyToldMe social media campaign inspired an essay collection filled with insights that moms took to heart. After more than a year in the making, today is launch day for SO GLAD THEY TOLD ME/Women Get Real About Motherhood (HerStories Press) and I’m thrilled to have an essay included in this book!  I confess, there’s something very heady about holding a book in your hands and seeing your name and words on the pages. ...

Featured in feminine . collective Photo credit: happymillerman via Compfight cc                                               I used to read my horoscope occasionally just for fun, but I didn’t put much stock in it. In fact, I was skeptical of anything I considered to border on divination or the occult. Sure, as a teen, there were slumber parties with séances and Ouija boards, but I never took any of it seriously. So I couldn’t believe I was consulting a tarot reader when I was pregnant with my second child. Early in my second trimester, I was plagued by sciatica, which alternatingly sent searing pain and numbness down the side of my leg. I was exhausted trying to juggle a part-time public relations job with my home life, which included keeping up with an active and curious toddler. Three days a week I dragged myself home from work and flop...

   AS FEATURED IN HEALTH RAISING KIDS When You Miss the Signs of Your Kid’s Anxiety BY Mary Novaria POSTED  June 7, 2016 It began with the “sock problem.” My daughter Ellie and I spent an agonizing ten minutes every morning finding the perfect pair of socks for her tiny, three-year-old feet. The nubby seam across the toes bothered my daughter to the point of such intense aggravation that she’d kick, cry, and throw socks in frustration. At Target we’d sit on the floor tearing open plastic packaging so she could try on socks before we bought them — whatever it took to avoid the ones that were uncomfortable and angst-producing. I tried to be calm and sympathetic, but the truth is I thought she was willful and finicky. I didn’t recognize Ellie’s tactile discomfort as a symptom of a larger problem. I missed the significance of the early signs, unaware that her sensitivity and shyness foreshadowed an anxiety disord...