Valerie Finholm

The holidays are supposed to be a time for festive gatherings, with family, friends, or new acquaintances. But for some people, it’s also a time to get through it alone, whether by circumstance or choice.
You might live far away from family, or you might be estranged from them. You may be single, divorced, or widowed. Perhaps the holidays stir up anxiety or loneliness instead of cheer.
“Those old memories can get stuck and replayed, particularly if those experiences happened around the holida...

Here are some great reads for the women in your life.

Attention, parents: It’s 8 p.m. Do you know where your children are? If they’re not in bed, you may be overlooking one of the most important things you can do to prepare your kids for school.

Special Section // Home Office
Costco members will find office chairs at Costco warehouses and a wider selection at Costco.com.
When I began working from home, I bought a big, cushy desk chair. At first, I loved the sensation of sinking into that chair. But after a couple of hours spent working at my computer I started to slouch and my spine slowly collapsed into a "C."
Next, I tried a stiff leather office chair. This one supported my upper back but left a gap mid-spine that I had to fill wit...

USA TODAY Best Years magazine
After ending a romantic relationship in her 60s, Rika Mead lived alone for several years in a spacious contemporary home in Highlands Ranch, Colo. She enjoyed her privacy, but when she saw an article about a home-share matching service for older women, she decided to give it a try. “I wanted help financially, but I also wanted companionship,” says Mead, who now rents the top floor of her house to a 57-year-old woman she met on Roommates4boomers.com.
The women are...

USA TODAY's "Back to School" magazine
Ask most parents, and they’ll readily admit that they want to provide their children with every advantage possible and every opportunity to succeed. In some cases, that means making important decisions during those first critical years of formal education: Will the right preschool lead to the best prep school and college? What professors will help further their careers? What careers will afford them the life they want?
It’s a lot to consider when planning...

USA TODAY's Back to School
They may not be old enough to drive or go to prom, but “kidpreneurs” around the country are proving that when you have a great idea, age is no barrier to success. Here are three mini-moguls who are turning homespun businesses into gold with the help of e-commerce, supportive family and a bit of luck.
Ry’s Ruffery
As the founder and CEO of Ry’s Ruffery (rysruffery.com), 13-year-old Ryan Kelly is a successful kidpreneur whose dog treats are sold at PetSmart, Target an...

Psychologists in primary care offices

For the newly single person older than 50, online dating can seem a bit sketchy, even embarrassing.But if you’re waiting for friends to set you up with a compatible companion, think again. Chances are good that they don’t know anyone who fits the bill. The truth is if you really want to find a soul mate, you have to make your own luck. And that may mean taking the plunge into online dating.

Attention, parents: It’s 8 p.m. Do you know where your children are?

The phones have been ringing off the hook at the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation since the news broke that an electronic device put into the spinal cord of several paraplegic patients allowed them to take steps.