It's not only children who grow. Parents do too.

For a parent, it's hard to recognize the significance of your work when you're immersed in the mundane details. Few of us, as we run the bath water or spread the peanut butter on the bread, proclaim proudly, "I'm making my contribution to the future of the planet." But with the exception of global hunger, few jobs in the world of paychecks and promotions compare in significance to the job of parent.

Those who rhapsodize about the ease and joy of childhood have perhaps forgotten what it's like to be 12 years old.

She felt everything too deeply, it was like the world was too much for her.

For 25 years, I did take my responsibilities as a pleaser of others sufficiently seriously.

Although Salinger had long since cut me out of his life completely and made it plain that he had nothing but contempt for me, the thought of becoming the object of his wrath was more than I felt ready to take on.

I think of myself as a realistic writer, not a creator of soap opera or melodrama.