I've always been a voracious reader -- except for those sleep-deprived baby years when the book would drop from my hand the minute I opened it. (My reading consisted mostly of board books and picture books during that period.)

Somehow, in the way all parents do, I expected my children to imitate my habits, plopping down with a book whenever there's a free minute.

We just got back from a week-long trip to the beach with my extended family, and I'm trying really hard to keep that vacation high -- even

My kids are growing up without their grandfathers.

My dad and my husband’s father both died before our children were born, and I’ve thought many times about what a loss that is.

This column ran in the June 5 News-Gazette "Family" section. We've added a few more suggestions at the bottom from friends and readers - feel free to add to the list!

Tick-tick-tick-tick.

That’s the constant sound in my head every time I think about summers with my kids.