I'm a suburban mom and I write about the extraordinary in the lives of ordinary families. Most everyone has a story. And,I have found my best work, listening to my kids and their friends, talking to parents at my kids' school events, drinking coffee at my local Starbucks. For several years, I have contributed regularly to the The New York Times, writing more recently about high school and college students as my sons have grown older. My latest stories in the Times' Education Life Section (July 25/26) reveal how many college students now have trouble resolving typical conflicts with their roommates and how roommates influence each other. My work also has been featured in The New York Times Practical Guide to Practically Everything.(I like to think that my work may offer guidance). I began my career as a staff writer for The Hartford Courant, taking a mid-career break in the corporate sector as director of corporate relations at CIGNA, before returning to journalism 10 years ago. I hold a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and a M.S.in journalism from Northwestern University. With my two adolescents--one a college freshmen--I face my own iConnected challenges daily.