Browsing: Lifestyle

Ananias Ocampo, 78, an undocumented street vendor in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, is overwhelmed as he enters his new studio apartment at Resurrection Project, Dec. 3, 2021. Hilda Burgos, left, his advocate and caregiver, records the event. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

Dear Hurt: If you want to give thoughtful and elaborate gifts, then you should do so only to express your own creative and generous spirit. The fact that these gifts are not reciprocated or appreciated makes you feel unhappy and out of balance, so yes – rachet down your giving and focus on the experiences you share.

If your parents have been living independently and relying on you for basic necessities, when your father passes away, your mother’s living situation will have to change. Look now for an assisted living situation for her. If she refuses, a social worker can define her choices, while you step back.

Now, this generation of immigrants faces the prospect of having lived and died in the shadows. Undocumented immigrants are blocked from accessing social programs that many seniors rely on, such as food stamps, public housing, Medicare and Social Security Insurance — programs that they pay billions of dollars into every year. Their families and communities weave a patchwork of formal and informal resources to make up the difference.

BandWith Chicago has come a long way. Its members have performed at Lollapalooza, at the United Center during a Blackhawks game, been featured on “The Today Show” and received a $5,000 grant from Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tee-Rico Foundation. Next up, BandWith’s advanced drum line team and dance team, some 30 students, will perform in Pennsylvania, New York and Washington, D.C.

Vaccination has been a major point of contention in our relationship with Sarah over the years. Over the past two years, she had repeatedly spread misinformation about COVID and the vaccine, and her young children have not received even the most routine childhood inoculations. It’s also not the first time we’ve caught her in a lie.

“Never dig or walk in any area that feels wet or soft underfoot, or where you can see standing water,” Yiesla said. Before you begin work in any part of the garden, dig up a handful of soil. It should feel moist, but not wet or muddy, and should just barely hold together when you squeeze it in your fist.

Trees planted too deep can cause what’s known as girdling roots. It can lead to a tree’s decline and, occasionally, death. One option, especially for younger trees, is to replant. For older, established trees, the soil around the trunk flare should be carefully removed to expose the root collar. (RJ Carlson/Chicago Botanic Garden)

It would be great if your kids had a dad and granddad who cared enough about them to get off the couch and take them outside to engage in play that is truly interactive. The number of letters I receive from parents of teens and young adults (mostly male, frankly), anguished over the hours, money and effort spent on video gaming would persuade any parent to delay this activity — or at least offer younger children something in the realm of age-appropriate.

We could say no gifts at all, but around here, people bring gifts anyway. If we do nothing, most of her gifts will be Barbies – or worse. We won’t allow her to keep them, and that’s not a great outcome either. So, our choices seem to be either 1) cancel the party or 2) be “inappropriate” and include a small note on the invitation saying, “No fashion dolls, please.”