Push-me-Pull-u

"I got the 'push-off,'" my girlfriend wailed into my cell phone. I immediately knew why she was upset. After 13 years of raising her son, he has literally shoved her away when she went to give him some love. Her mind flashes through memories of diaper changes, first steps, birthday parties, softball games, Mother's Day cards, and late-night sleepovers. But alas, as all the manuals predict, he went to bed a loving, happy, sweet kid and woke up in a rage of hormones that have convinced him that his family is the enemy. It's a major adjustment in a mom's life and a true test of her wisdom. Her reactions are crucial, while she walks the fine emotional line between heartbreak and maturity. She flashes back to her teen years and questions if she could have been so off, so cold; an old yearbook or two gets pulled out of storage. My other friends are going through their own crises as well: two high-level executive friends are struggling with their six months of job hunting. Both are thinking positive yet hurt that it's taking so long. Another has been coping with her husband's loss of a job after 31 years. While he's looking, she not only supports him but she goes fly-fishing with him and to yoga. This couple will have their house full again because their young daughter will be moving back home to recuperate after a short-lived marriage. It's all so much more than dropping the kids at soccer or ballet, even though that's happening too. Recently I saw the famous Food Network chef Alton Brown. He's tired of hearing how no one has time to cook anymore, yet we spend hours upon hours at soccer games. "Teach your kids to cook," he says, "You sure can't eat a soccer ball."

She buzz words

• Cantaloupe
• Safari
• Tilt-a-Whirl
• Flex Spending

Right now she could be

• Picking a child up from the last day of school
• Grading papers
• Delivering newspapers
• Weeding her garden
• Weeding through her email

She trip

Car trips can really be torture if her kid gets carsick. Queasy Pops offer natural relief without the side effects of Dramamine. Made with lemon and ginger, these pops soothe the tummy. Seven lollipops cost $4.

Preggie Pop Drops for morning sickness and Queasy Drops for grown-ups are also available. www.threelollies.com

She Podcast

Search "parenting" on iTunes and more than 270 choices will pop up. Here are a few of her favs:

• Quick and Dirty Tips: a five-minute daily podcast that covers everything from taking kids to the movies to dealing with grumpy toddlers who won't brush their teeth.
• Manic Mommies: a podcast for "moms who are trying to do it all, and do it well."
• Pregtastic: focuses on pregnancy with guest speakers.
• PediaCast: board-certified pediatricians answer medical questions and share medical news.

She's thinking...

• Summer plans
• Family reunions
• Politics
• Health concerns
• Child development
• Relationships

She likes it when...

• No one in her family is sunburned

She June is..

• The best time to buy furniture: retailers are weeding out their inventories for the new styles that will arrive in August.

She Health

Contrary to what she may think, orange juice is not the healthiest juice she could be drinking.

Here is a list of the top 10 beverages ranked by their levels of disease-fighting antioxidants.

• Pomegranate juice
• Acai Juice
• Red wine
• Cranberry Juice
• Concord grape juice
• Orange Juice
• Blueberry juice
• Tea
• Black cherry juice
• Apple Juice

• Get more She Prep at www.ShePrep.com