Lisa Endlich's Blog, page 24

As I Parent My Daughter, I Can Feel Everything About Being a Teen All Over Again

My 15-year-old, Nora, was recently in a musical produced by a local community theater program. It was funny, and sweet and mildly irreverent, and the schedule leading up to the show dates was increasingly busy. When it was over there was the expected letdown although, to be honest with you, Nora does really well with letdown.

It’s like she was born with the ability to experience peace, to succumb to a deserved state of rest, without all the emotions that get in the way of fully enjoying it. ...

This Is Why You SHOULD Take That Epic Moms’ Trip

I just got back from another annual epic girls trip with a crew of smart, beautiful, incredible women-all of whom happen to also be teachers and moms. Even though we can’t remember exactly how many years we’ve racked up on our adventures, we know we need more than two hands to count them.

We spend countless hours making up for the lost time of the school year, when schedules never seem to line up-a wall of sports schedules, meetings, drop offs and pickups, blocking our way from seeing each ot...

I Thought We Would Be Friends Forever, It Hurts So Much That I Was Wrong

For the past 20 plus years, my life has been full of fun. Admittedly, much of this fun was the result of having kids. We met other families and made friends with people because our kids were friendly with their kids.

“Can we have dinner with Bobby’s parents?” Can Skyler sleep over?” “Is it ok if Charlie comes with us to the park?”

These kinds of asks were just the beginning of a beautiful season-one where friends became chosen family-truly! We welcomed other kids into our home regularly. W...

I Thought We Would Be Friends Forever, it Hurts So Much That I Was Wrong

Lisa is typing

For the past 20 plus years, my life has been full of fun. Admittedly, much of this fun was the result of having kids. We met other families and made friends with people because our kids were friendly with their kids.

“Can we have dinner with Bobby’s parents?” Can Skyler sleep over?” “Is it ok if Charlie comes with us to the park?”

These kinds of asks were just the beginning of a beautiful season-one where friends became chosen family-truly! We welcomed other kids into our...

I Worry That We’ve Treated Our Son Like a Kid for Too Long

My 17-year-old son and I just had a heart to heart. The kind I’ve been craving. Wishing for. The kind that’s full of raw emotion. Real feelings. The kind that reminds me of the way we used to talk back in the day. When he was young and uninhibited. And not on the edge of adulthood.

The kind that broke my heart a little – okay a lot- as I held up a mirror to the reflection that he sees in me as a parent. So different from the one that I think is staring back.

I had a powerful heart to heart...

Midlife Crisis: This Life is Not One I Could Have Imagined

Almost twenty-five years ago, I graduated from law school and became an attorney. I was young and newly married without kids. As a little girl, I had always dreamed of growing up and becoming a professional woman in the working world—after all, my mother was a successful physician and I felt like I had to follow in her footsteps by building a meaningful career.

I had the best laid plans, and they definitely included achieving significant things in my chosen profession. But they also included...

I Stayed Home With My Kids and Now I Regret It

The most expensive decision of my life I made alone. There was no realtor, no car dealer and no travel agent when I chose to leave the paid workforce and become a stay-at-home mom. There was just me looking at my husband, my children (both those inside and outside of my body) and the chaos that was our lives.

At no point did I calculate the lifetime impact of diminished earnings and prospects.

I looked at the year we were in and the following year, and I bolted. No part of my brain sat it...

Would You Pay Your Teen to Finish Their College Essay This Summer?

Not much on social media shocks me these days, but I was flummoxed to read a post in my son’s high school parent Facebook group. It was from a parent of a graduating senior and she was dispensing advice about the college admissions process, specifically the college essay. The parent said she paid her kid to finish their college essay the summer before senior year and she encouraged other parents to do the same.

Nope, I thought. I refuse to pay my son to do something he’s supposed to do. I ref...

My Son Doesn’t Know What He Wants to Do With Life, Here’s Why I’m Not Rushing Him

These past few months have been a storm of emotions in our house. My youngest son (youngest!) graduated high school a year early. I didn’t know that this was going to happen until December, and I cried pretty hard the night he told me. I thought we had so much more time to do the high school thing. And this was a reminder that my empty nest, something I’m not sure I’m ready for, is really close. 

But I had to get used to the fact that my time with my son was getting cut short. I also had to k...

The 6 Best Luggage for College Students and Study Abroad

Credit: Calpak

Whether you’re off to your first year of college or traveling overseas for a semester abroad, you’ll need a suitcase that can haul your essentials — preferably in style. The best luggage for college students is lightweight and roomy, but also has a streamlined design that doesn’t take up too much space in a dorm room or an off-campus apartment. That’s why we’ve put together a list of our top picks from top-rated brands like Béis, Calpak, and Away.

To find the best luggage fo...