My daughter is in her first year of high school and navigating the world of girl drama, boyfriends and school dances. As painful as it can be to watch her suffer through some of this, I want her to know a few things that I wish I'd known at her age.
Last year my oldest child left for college, which happened about 24 hours after he was born. Or at least that’s how it felt to me. I can look back and think of a few things that I regret as his mom; nothing too serious, just a thing or two that I might change. I do, however, have a list of things that I refuse to regret even if some might consider me a bad mom. I plan on holding on to these same non-regrets (and maybe a few more) with my other two children. Here they are:
![Why Love Is Better The 2nd Time Around [EXPERT]](http://images.tangomag.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/node-full/image_blog/fairytale_0.jpg "Why Love Is Better The 2nd Time Around [EXPERT]")
As young women, we imagine that love happens like this: Boy meets girl. Girl loves boy. Boy sends girl flowers. Boy buys girl a big ring. Girl says "I do." Boy and girl live happily ever after. But then we wake the hell up.
As a recent profile about her in New York mag says, Jane Pratt has indeed been "15 for an awfully long time now;" she declares that as her "emotional" age, or the age you will never forget because something really life-changing happened to you. I guess mine is a bit older.
![Study Says: Young Girls Aspire To Be Sexy [EXPERT]](http://images.tangomag.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/node-full/image_blog/girl_growing_up.jpg "Study Says: Young Girls Aspire To Be Sexy [EXPERT]")
According to a study by psychologists Christy Starr and Gail Ferguson at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, which was published in the journal Sex Roles, young girls value the concept of "sexiness." Specifically, 60 girls were each shown two dolls — one of which was dressed in sexy clothing while the other doll was dressed in a loose yet trendy outfit. The girls were then asked to select the doll that they wanted to look like, the doll that they already looked like, the doll that they wanted to play with and the doll that looked like she would be popular in school.
![What I Learned From My Daughter [EXPERT]](http://images.tangomag.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/node-full/image_blog/195295841.jpg "What I Learned From My Daughter [EXPERT]")
On Saturday May 26, 2012, my oldest daughter graduated from high school and she's off to college in the fall, leaving the nest. This summer is probably the last time she'll be living at home for the rest of her life. Sure, she'll come home over the holidays and summer break, but most of that time is spent going out with friends and catching up on the happenings in their lives. From this point forward, my baby is going to be out in the real world on her own. Am I nostalgic thinking back about the time we spent together? Heck yes. Am I sad? Yes, but excited for the adventure she is about to embark on. Am I worried? No way! Let me share with you a true story involving a little boy and a little girl that happened many years ago but still moves me to tears when I tell it.
It's funny – when our parents or grandparents hit retirement age and older, we often lose the ability to relate to them. We may think they're stubborn, incapable of change and reluctant to accept anything new in their life. But the heartfelt comedy released this weekend, "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel," takes this idea and flips it on its head.
There is an adjustment period in every relationship. You are both learning what you can and cannot deal with, what you absolutely must have and what you can live without.
Max Green, 32, who just moved back home from the West Coast, recently told the New York Post, "I moved back in with my parents in August. I was dissatisfied with my job, was thinking of going back to school, and wanted to be close to my family."
As any girl in the dating world will tell you, you can tell pretty much all you need to know about a potential boyfriend from the house he keeps. We're not saying emotional maturity is reflected in one's furniture ... except, yeah, we kinda are. It's not about whether or not the guy has money; it's about whether or not he's learned to make his house a home without Mom's help. So, without further ado, we'd like to present 10 home goods that separate the men from the boys.
In addition to being engaged to Kyla Weber (a Canadian realtor, we're obligated to mention her nationality and occupation), Vince Vaughn is talking about kids. While doing press for Couples Retreat, the Swingers star mentioned that he's about read for settling down a bit and making a family. It really is the end of an era.
