Author Archives: Susan Ridgeway

About Susan Ridgeway

Some call her crazy, some call her an inspiration and some just call her Mom. Sue is a writer, fitness instructor, community volunteer, wife and mother of three girls under the age of 6. When not resolving property disputes, kissing boo-boos, negotiating naps or just generally enjoying being with her children, Sue is busy with her freelance writing business: creating brochures, newsletters, websites, etc. And in her spare time (ha!) she teaches spin and Pilates classes at the YMCA and with private clients.

On the Weight Watchers Wagon…Again: A Bathing Suit in February

I know what you are thinking: a bathing suit in February, are you crazy? This is the time of year when we are “legally” allowed to be covered in layers of clothes or bundled under the blanket in front of the fire. You technically don’t have to show skin for quite some time. But it’s true, I did it. I wore a bathing suit, in public, in the middle of February. It was for my kids (the things we mothers do). A new indoor water park just opened up complete with slides and a lazy river. My perpetually skinny friend … Continue reading →

My Bubbe: A (temporary) Solution

Reason finally won out. Or perhaps it was just the reality of the situation. Whatever it was, I am grateful my parents finally changed their mind; they finally admitted they can’t take care for Bubbe on their own anymore. For years they had been resistant to putting Bubbe into a nursing home or assisted living or any outside facility, claiming she would be miserable anyplace but their place. We all knew that wasn’t true, but we also knew it was guilt keeping them from making a rational decision and how do you argue with guilt? Well, it’s a moot point … Continue reading →

On the Weight Watchers Wagon…Again: Day 1

It’s now 8:55pm so I think I can safely say I made it through my first day back on the Weight Watchers wagon, and by all accounts it was a success. Early this morning I got out my new journal and wrote today’s date, ready to start anew. It’s quite inspiring, taking out the clean, white journal with nothing written in it, no slip ups or splurges recorded, you still have your total Point allotment that day; it is as if you are born again. (Well, I’m guessing about that one as I am Jewish, but you get the point). … Continue reading →

My Bubbe: What’s Best?

Guilt is such a worthless emotion. I mean really, what good does feeling guilty do for anyone? Unfortunately guilt is a major factor influencing many people’s actions, especially in my family. While I know Jewish people don’t have exclusive rights to the emotion, I think we may have perfected it. My Bubbe (grandmother) has been living with my parents for almost ten years now. When my parents first brought Bubbe down from Philadelphia she was still an active woman up for whatever adventure we had in store. While never an overly cheery individual by any stretch of the imagination, she … Continue reading →

My Bubbe

My maternal grandmother, or Bubbe as we call her, is 97 years old. And until recently she was in great health. In most ways, she is pretty unremarkable (you know, besides being 97), she is an old woman who looks and acts the part. But there is one thing that stands out: her purse. Standing 4’10” on a good day, and well under 100lbs, my Bubbe has miraculously-strong shoulders. I know this because she carries this incredibly-heavy purse with her wherever she goes. Now this purse is no average handbag carrying a few of life’s necessities. No, this is a … Continue reading →

Kids and Religion

What do you teach your children about religion when you are not religious? Despite being raised in a Jewish home, I am not a religious person. I do not belong to a synagogue, keep kosher, or even follow most of the basic rules of Judaism. But I still consider myself Jewish. Being Jewish to me is being a part of something bigger than me, something that transcends time, and something that has been around for thousands of years. And, despite constant efforts to eradicate it, something that will continue to survive for thousands more. Being a Jew means being a … Continue reading →

On the Weight Watchers Wagon…Again: Recommitting

I know there are a lot of women out there in the same position as me: they are active; exercising daily, but still can’t seem to lose those last few pounds. I have always been a very active person but I’ve also always struggled with my weight. My friends are amazed when I reveal any kind of weight issue with them because they all know me as the “super-fit, super active Sue.” They just assume, you do a little exercise and the weight will come off, but not so for me. It doesn’t matter how much activity I do, it’s … Continue reading →

Being (sort of) Jewish in the South

As I sit here and nibble on my ham sandwich, I find myself contemplating what it means to be Jewish in the South. I grew up in a quasi-religious family; we went to temple on a fairly regular basis, I was bat mitzvah’d and observed the big holidays (Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah, Passover), but I didn’t really think much about being Jewish. Living in the suburbs right outside of D.C. being Jewish, or Catholic or Muslim or whatever was never an issue, people were more concerned with your political affiliation: are you a Republican or Democrat or what? I never … Continue reading →