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Book Review: Digging to America

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Novelist Anne Tyler’s book Digging to America centers around the relationships of members of two families who meet at the airport the night their daughters arrive from Korea. Although very different, the couples decide to get together annually to celebrate the anniversary of the girls’ arrival. Eventually their lives intertwine in many different ways over the next ten years. The book is fiction, and not strictly or even primarily an adoption book. One family is Iranian-American and, although they are thoroughly “Americanized”, I enjoyed learning a bit about that culture. We hear a bit about the grandmother’s life as a … Continue reading →

APA Board Approves Changes to DSM-5

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has officially finalized the changes to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Will these changes affect your child? If so, in what ways? Here’s a brief review of some of the changes that have been made. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Medical Disorders, or DSM, is the book that psychiatrists use to determine a diagnosis of a specific mental disorder. Every so often, it becomes necessary to review the contents of the current DSM, and to determine if anything needs to be revised, updated, or removed. There have been a total … Continue reading →

Improving Your Personal Financial Future

A recent poll shows that most Americans have been shaken by the recession and are no longer optimistic about the economy improving any time soon. In addition, researchers found that many people, especially women are fearful about their personal financial future. In many cases, women admitted to saving less for retirement because they are “just getting by” or are desperately trying to pay off current debts, including school loans. The poll’s results have many financial experts concerned that individuals are not building a large enough retirement nest egg. This is especially true for the female respondents who stand to suffer … Continue reading →

More Fiction for Summer Reading

In a recent blog, And Now for Something Completely Frivolous, I named some Danielle Steel novels that had adoption-related themes. Steel also has an entire novel devoted to infertility and adoption. Mixed Blessings begins with three weddings on the same day, and follows these couples through the early years of their marriages. I don’t want to give too much of the plot away, but here are some characters you will meet. — A woman in her forties who has adult stepchildren and never thought she wanted babies of her own, suddenly finds herself rethinking that decision. Her new husband, a … Continue reading →

Theme Parks that Won’t Break the Bank

How much money did you have to set aside to pay for your family’s summer vacation to Disney, Six Flags or Universal? Unless you found an outstanding package deal I doubt that your family of four could get admission, parking, meals, drinks, and souvenirs for less than $500. Now consider how much more you could get for the same amount of money if you opted to visit a smaller theme park like Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana or Alabama Adventure in Bessemer, Alabama. All-day admission at both parks cost about half of what Disney charges. Currently, a one-day ticket … Continue reading →

Line of Duty — Terri Blackstock

In keeping with the commemoration of September 11th, I have chosen to review books that in some way hearken back to the men and women who have made this country what it is today. This novel by Terri Blackstock,while it is last in the series I will be reviewing, was written to honor the men and women who served us during 9/11 and I think it’s very appropriate to review this book today. Taken from the acknowledgement: “As many of you know, I fully intended to end this series with Book 4, “Trial by Fire.” But on September 11, 2001, … Continue reading →