For years I have been trying to psych myself up to do a lifestyle makeover:  eat healthy, exercise regularly, lose weight. Life is busy, and the past decade of mine has seen enough changes and challenges to keep me fairly distracted from my expanding rear. Lately, though, my day-to-day routine is fairly settled and I have been preparing myself to make my health a priority. After all, there are two young girls counting on me to be here for them as they make their way in the world. Step one: I joined a gym. Not just any gym, more a club. A place with an amazing child-care center, dozens of …

Back before I had my kids I logged a lot of time with my nose pressed against the window of the mommy club.  My greatest wish was to join that wonderful group. Once my first daughter was born I did feel like a member, albeit an unpolished newbie.  Was I the only one with unwashed hair and spit-up on my shoulder, slightly wild-eyed and perpetually 15 minutes late? Women habitually look each other up and down, right?  Try taking your new baby to the mall.  Instead of knowing smiles from my kindred sisters, the other moms were not only giving my outfit, hair and purse the once over, but also my …

"Are we there yet?"  This after about five minutes in the car on our way from Arbutus to New York City.  Then literally as we pulled on to the ramp for I-95 north from I-195, "I'm really hungry."  So one exit later at Caton Ave., we changed course found ourselves McDonald's bound.  Once both little girls had been served pancakes, sausage and hash brown and apple juice, the journey could proceed. I felt surprisingly calm as I set out on my longest solo drive -- apart from my daughters, five years old and 20-months-old, contentedly munching behind me in our mini van.  My husband typically …