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Planet Mom

AUTHOR

Melinda Wentzel
Planet Mom: It’s where I live, probably eating leftovers. Visit me there at http://www.melindawentzel.com and http://www.facebook.com/NotesfromPlanetMom. Caricature by Simon Ellinas.

Recent Articles

Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost 0
Melinda Wentzel
- Stories
- June 24, 2026
The title of this column, which is a renowned line from J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel, The Fellowship of the Ring, certainly rings true for me — although I have been known to become somewhat disoriented while wandering, especially in the woods. At any rate, one of my favorite activities is to try to get my steps
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Into the Woods 0
Melinda Wentzel
- Stories
- May 20, 2026
It’s no wonder the novel The Secret Garden resonated so deeply with me when I was around ten. I found myself identifying with the characters who became immersed within the natural world, inside a special, hidden-from-civilization plot of greenery that ended up healing them in some way. And since I grew up surrounded by woods
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By the Book 0
Melinda Wentzel
- Stories
- May 13, 2026
I have what some would consider a small library in my home — which sounds more impressive than it actually is. It’s a tiny collection of books written by some of my favorite authors, situated on a shelf just above my desk. On occasion, I pull one down and reread it, recalling why I placed
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Adulting, Mostly 0
Melinda Wentzel
- Stories
- May 6, 2026
My husband and I are empty nesters and have been for the past seven years or so. Our twin daughters are on their own now and navigating through life quite well for the most part. They’ve managed to graduate from college, secure jobs, and find decent apartments after a lengthy search process. Never mind that
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Strangelings 0
Melinda Wentzel
- Stories
- April 29, 2026
Most would agree that cats are weird little dudes. Adorable and fuzzy, of course, but definitely weird. At least ours are. My husband and I have had a number of them over the years. Long-haired, short-haired, smoky gray, orange, jet black, and tabby. But they all seemed to have one thing in common: weirdness. We
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I’m With the Band 0
Melinda Wentzel
- Stories
- April 15, 2026
Since our kids abandoned us and went off to college, my husband and I really miss the noise in our household. Sounds almost inconceivable, but it’s true. They had friends over frequently, and we miss their noise, too. Really, we do — because they were delightful. There were countless Halloween parties, marching band sectional get-togethers,
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