Editor's Note: Mama, I'm in love
“I’m in love, Mama.”
Have any words struck more fear in a mother’s heart?
“I’m in love, Mama.”
Have any words struck more fear in a mother’s heart?

The table is set with two small plates and two dinner plates. On the small plates: Daddy’s Famous Barbecue Chicken bits, mixed veggies, buttered bread. On the dinner plates: Salad, Daddy’s Overly Spicy Grilled Chicken.
“Mama? Mama? Mama? I need a drink, please.”
In general, my memories of life in elementary school have always been positive.
Instead of groaning about summer being over, I celebrated days spent reading, spelling and laboring over long division.
Well, mostly celebrated.
Finish reading 'School lunch horrors' »As promised in our September issue, my mom, Kathy Haller's, bread recipe:
Finish reading 'Mom's bread' »With the scents of shimmering hot asphalt and chlorine hanging in the air, I’ve found myself reminiscing about the summers of my childhood.
From the confines of my cluttered cubicle, I’ve closed my eyes for a few blissful seconds and been transported to that first exhilarating leap into the pool on a steamy day. Or, to the morning of the day we’d leave for a family road trip, when I’d make sure my pillow and books were stowed carefully on my seat of the car.
By SUSAN HALLER
For Smart
My mom looked slightly embarrassed as she uncovered her angel food cake at a recent family gathering.
Instead of being a glorious fluffy masterpiece, the center of the cake was sunken, prompting good-natured teasing about it being a “fallen angel food cake.”
Finish reading 'What it Means to be Smart' »