The Rockwood Files

By Gwen Rockwood, newspaper columnist and mama of 3 There’s a toddler in the house – a four-legged, floppy-eared toddler. And he’s making me crazy. How is it possible that I could love the little […]

By Gwen Rockwood, newspaper columnist and mama of 3 For the past month or so, I’ve been waiting for Mother Nature’s punch line. Because the unusually mild winter and the spring-like temperatures in February and […]

By Gwen Rockwood, newspaper columnist and mama of 3 I got a lesson in bravery today from a 5-year-old. Our preschooler, Kate, knew she’d need kindergarten immunizations before she could move into the elementary school […]

By Gwen Rockwood, newspaper columnist and mama of 3 I watched a man fish today at 30,000 feet above the Earth. He was sitting across the aisle one row ahead of me on an airplane […]

By Gwen Rockwood, newspaper columnist and mama of 3 By this time next week, I’ll be 39. The actual age doesn’t bother me much but the number is downright embarrassing. Thirty-nine sounds like it’s desperately […]

There’s an old TV commercial for Tootsie Pops featuring a cartoon boy who poses this question to wise Mr. Owl: “How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a […]

A few years ago, I stopped turning on the car radio. At the time, it was because the kids were usually in the car with me and I didn’t want them hearing the “bump and […]

By Gwen Rockwood, newspaper columnist and mama of 3 Early this morning, I opened my eyes and saw 7-year-old Jack’s eyes looking right at me, just inches from my face. “Mom,” he whispered. “I need […]