We all know them: fluffs. People addicted to support, to the sweet side of life. I used to be quite the fluff myself, I think. Everyone had to be nice, kind sweet, generous and,friendly to me. And if they weren’t, I’d come undone. Sometimes a little, sometimes a bit more than that. Over the years,…
My nephews Leo (8) and Julius (10) are staying with me. They’re sitting on the couch while I’m doing the dishes, and this is what I hear: “Will you join me? Why not? Don’t be boring.” “Stop killing me.” “Yeah, but you just died to annoy me.” “Aunt Lara, will you play the pirate game…
I’ve deleted my account and removed the app from my phone. The worst thing that can happen is that I start over one day. But for now, Tinder is staying offline. Lately, every conversation seems to be about one thing. And that’s not a problem. It can be fun, too. But it almost immediately becomes…
This morning, while waiting in the newly opened second checkout line at Aldi with a fresh baguette and dog food, a woman storms into the store shouting: “Whose two dogs are in that car?” It takes me a moment to realize she’s talking about me.My head is still somewhere in the clouds after my Greek…
When my nephew Jim was still a little guy — and still found his Aunt Lara interesting (he’s 13 now) — he loved coming over for sleepovers. I was still living in Eindhoven back then. Sleepovers meant no rules: endless TV, a fully stocked candy drawer at grabbing height, and — fixed tradition — chips…
And no, this is not about a Facebook course. Last December, I got dumped after a five-month digital “situation.”I texted, “Can we at least talk about it?”One checkmark. Blocked. Rejection I can handle.But no communication? That’s my biggest nightmare. “A situation is a semi-exclusive arrangement with optional commitment, no clear expiration date and no return policy.”—…
I’m at Camping L’Ourthe in the Ardennes with my nieces Sam and Lou. The little table is set, the fairy lights are up, our beds are made, and the sun is shining. We are ready. I give them each 10 euros to spend on whatever they want this weekend. I call out, “Are you sure?”…
I remember, a long time ago, frying eggs for my ex. I was convinced I had given him the biggest, best-looking one. But when I saw him glance — disappointed — at his egg and then at mine, and heard him say,“Why did you give yourself the biggest egg?”I was stunned. I thought:When do I…
My sister and I are sitting on a beach in Portugal. In front of us, two boys — about eight or nine years old — are playing. A smaller boy — maybe three — walks up to them and tries to join in. But he is clearly not welcome. When the little guy asks them…
“Like with your mother, but with sex?” “Yes,” Marjo’s husband had answered, when she asked him if that described his ideal relationship. I often run into Marjo during my morning walks with the dogs. She’s a warm, kind-hearted woman from Limburg, and after each encounter we know a little more about each other. Her dog…
