Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Guest AuthorNovember 3, 2014

Get out and vote. Who am I to suggest such a thing? The other day someone described me as a lobbyist. I’m not. Lobbyists form close relationships with lawmakers and encourage them to vote in ways that would benefit their clients. I recognize a lobbyist’s value, but would never consider myself one of them. First […]

Guest AuthorOctober 22, 2014

A few years ago, at a play group when my children were toddlers, I heard from another mommy that local police published arrest records online. I was a stay-at-home mom and obviously bored — I was attending play groups. So, during my sons’ naptime, I thought it’d be fun to log into that website and […]

Guest AuthorOctober 15, 2014

Help books, talk shows and countless studies help parents maneuver through the tween years. They are primarily focused on girls and boys between the ages of, “What do these growing body parts do?” and “Let’s do these growing body parts.” What about real tweens? Those of us in our mid-40s, straddled between two unruly generations […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 30, 2014

I converted to Judaism over 20 years ago. It had nothing to do with the fact that I was dating, and later married, a Jewish guy. Poor thing thought he was getting an Irish shiksa and instead wound up with his mother. No, my best girlfriend Julie took me to her synagogue so I could […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 17, 2014

So the nation that expressed shock and outrage over O.J. Simpson is now at a loss for words. Again. Well, sports fans, put down your beer and listen up. I don’t understand you people, really. How can you all get so excited about the achievements of strangers, leer at commercials objectifying women, scream with bloodthirsty […]

Guest AuthorAugust 12, 2014

Those three months between school years keep getting shorter as my boys get older. We take part in familiar rituals – they go to summer camp for a few weeks, several days are spent lazing around the house, we embark on a family vacation that miraculously ends without divorce or felony charges. We even make […]

Guest AuthorJuly 14, 2014

NPR recently did a news story about stress and the toll it takes on a person’s health. What causes high levels of hazardous stress? According to the NPR story: disabilities, chronic illness, extreme poverty…and parenting teenagers. You heard me. Herpes and raising teens. Similar in more ways than one. Add in some serious traffic problems […]

Guest AuthorJune 30, 2014

Here are 10 reasons to pry the husband away from the bathroom, the kids away from the World Cup, and read The Declaration of Independence together as a family: It takes three minutes. Tops. That’s a 180-second break from arguing with your daughter about her bikini and how no one really needs to see that […]

Guest AuthorJune 25, 2014

It’s been almost 15 years since I decided to give this whole Mommy Thing a try. Back in 2000, I said goodbye to friends, who would go on to shape global policies, so I could move back to Tampa and find fulfillment in “Goodnight Moon” and “Banana Phone.” I don’t think it’s a coincidence that […]

Guest AuthorJune 17, 2014

Every June, I write thank you notes to my twin sons’ teachers. I include a gift card, and words of appreciation for all their hard work. I also encourage them to spend the gift cards on tequila shots or therapy sessions. This year, my kids’ last in middle school, we experienced two truly ineffective teachers. […]

Tag: Catherine Durkin Robinson

Catherine Durkin Robinson: We citizens are the solution so get out and vote today

Catherine Durkin Robinson: Posting mug shots of everyone arrested is wrong

Catherine Durkin Robinson: Grappling with guilt as parents grow older

Catherine Durkin Robinson: Yom Kippur — the day to forgive each other

Catherine Durkin Robinson: Ray Rice has family talking about alcohol, sports, men, violence

Catherine Durkin Robinson: Engaged parents = student success

Catherine Durkin Robinson: Twins are teens and mom is stressed

Catherine Durkin Robinson: 10 reasons to read the Declaration of Independence

Catherine Durkin Robinson: How to make competitive parents shut up

Catherine Durkin Robinson: Thanking bad teachers for making me a hero