Welcome to acuMOM

(a small division of Acumen Test Prep)

Parenting semi-accurately, mostly accidentally, and always acutely aware of all the missteps, gifts and humor along the way...acumommin'

And mommin' ain't easy

Say hello

Nov 20, 2019
7 min

When You Go to a Yoga Class and Come Home with Skin Cancer

My black & white photo makes it look tame; In reality it looks angry and red, a slash across my shoulder blade, like I was in a bar fight.

27 views0 comments

Nov 15, 2019
8 min

I Tried NUULY and I am in Love (about that one time I tried a clothes rental service)

Unboxing is all the rage and I’ve tried a few over the years. But today? Today I received my box from nuuly. And I am THRILLED.

64 views0 comments

Nov 6, 2019
6 min

If You Send a Kid a Care Package, Chances Are...

If you send a kid a care package, chances are they’ll want one every holiday day. And if you’re like me and didn’t quite get one ordered...

25 views0 comments

Nov 6, 2019
10 min

Firefly, Fired and Flew

We made it to three Firefly Music Festivals starting when my daughter was 15. That sounds ridiculously young now, but somehow seemed...

5 views0 comments

Oct 14, 2019
7 min

Hello Fall. Goodbye Summer 2019 — I Hated You.

I have always loved fall. But never more than this year, because this summer…this summer crushed me. The summer of loss and relentless...

21 views0 comments

sheila clancy

Jul 26, 2019
7 min

"Don't be Sorry, Help Us": The Best Response I've Ever Heard From a Grieving Parent

This is personal. And if you’re a human, living on this planet, it should be personal for you too. It has to be. On June 30th I read this...

18 views0 comments

Jul 11, 2019
6 min

Summer Jobs -- the Next Generation

“Spring being a tough act to follow, God created June.” ~Al Bernstein June equals freedom, amiright? There is something so deliciously...

9 views0 comments

Jun 11, 2019
6 min

Summer Jobs

Sometimes they’re lemons, bitter and hard, and sometimes they’re cool, sweet refreshing lemonade. I hope your kids have some of both.

10 views0 comments

May 11, 2019
4 min

When all you Want is a Burrito

“You’re gorgeous. Wanna go out sometime?” Not offensive right? Would you go so far as to say it’s a compliment? Me too. But what if your...

17 views0 comments

Apr 30, 2019
8 min

#What'sMyName

*Updated to include the website created by Samantha Josephson’s parents. Please support their mission. Click the link below to learn how...

6 views0 comments

The Biggest Test You Should Prep For Isn't the SAT

sheila clancy

Mar 12, 2019
6 min

The Biggest Test You Should Prep For Isn't the SAT

We talk a lot about tests at Acumen, and as a mom I’ve been living tests for y-e-a-r-s: entrance exams, achievement tests, mid-terms,...

58 views0 comments

sheila clancy

Feb 14, 2019
6 min

The One Question You Should Always Ask Your Teen Before They Head Out the Door

“Do I have everything?" My college roommates and I used to ask that every time we walked out the door to go somewhere. None of us carried...

64 views0 comments

sheila clancy

Feb 9, 2019
4 min

Welcome to Fool's Spring, SATs, and Genius Ideas to Combat Dreaduary

February. Dreaduary. Am I right? And no, I’m not a Valentine’s Day hater. We’re holiday people around here, so we’re all about heart...

9 views0 comments

sheila clancy

Jan 30, 2019
7 min

Who to Call When You Lose Your Car and How to Avoid Trouble that Might Lead to 17 Phone Calls to Mom

I made a New Year’s Resolution to try new things/experiences in 2019, and I’m soon to have 2 kids in college, so the things on the list...

5 views0 comments

sheila clancy

Jan 24, 2019
3 min

15 Things I miss About the Boy Man When He’s Away at School

“If I were him, I’d be offended.” That’s what my daughter said when she read my last blog. Whoops. Definitely not my intent. So, in the...

4 views0 comments

sheila clancy

Jan 12, 2019
4 min

On the 12th Day of Christmas, My College Kid Gave to Me (aka Why Winter Break Should be SHORT)

You know the tune, sing it with me…On the twelfth day of Christmas, my college kid gave to me… Twelve dirty dishes (in the sink. Every...

3 views0 comments

sheila clancy

Jan 10, 2019
5 min

Do. Donate. Demonstrate. How to Crush a Dampened Holiday Mood and the College Essays.

Pretend this was written 3 weeks ago when that quote was still funny. That was my intent. But then, you know, life happened. And now...

5 views0 comments

sheila clancy

Dec 9, 2018
4 min

College Essay Advice: “Don’t Worry About Being Smart, Just Be Yourself” ~Monica Geller/Friends

📷 Let’s talk essays. Say that out loud to your teen and I bet the conversation stops faster than a Waze driver hearing “police ahead.”...

7 views0 comments

sheila clancy

Nov 27, 2018
4 min

“Who Says I’m Going to College?”

📷 “WHAT ARE THE SATs??” That’s what my brother yelled into the phone at me in 1988. He was a high school senior and I was a college...

7 views0 comments

sheila clancy

Nov 19, 2018
3 min

What Not To Ask a High School Senior (trust me)

📷 “So where are you going to school next year?” You’ll want to ask every high school senior that starting in about November. Don’t....

4 views0 comments

ACUMEN Test Prep

Small Classes, Convenient Locations, Great Teachers

888-4-SAT-ACT

info@acumentestprep.com

Welcome to acuMOM

(a small division of Acumen Test Prep)

When You Go to a Yoga Class and Come Home with Skin Cancer

I Tried NUULY and I am in Love (about that one time I tried a clothes rental service)

If You Send a Kid a Care Package, Chances Are...

Firefly, Fired and Flew

Hello Fall. Goodbye Summer 2019 — I Hated You.

"Don't be Sorry, Help Us": The Best Response I've Ever Heard From a Grieving Parent

Summer Jobs -- the Next Generation

Summer Jobs

When all you Want is a Burrito

#What'sMyName

The Biggest Test You Should Prep For Isn't the SAT

The One Question You Should Always Ask Your Teen Before They Head Out the Door

Welcome to Fool's Spring, SATs, and Genius Ideas to Combat Dreaduary

Who to Call When You Lose Your Car and How to Avoid Trouble that Might Lead to 17 Phone Calls to Mom

15 Things I miss About the Boy Man When He’s Away at School

On the 12th Day of Christmas, My College Kid Gave to Me (aka Why Winter Break Should be SHORT)

Do. Donate. Demonstrate. How to Crush a Dampened Holiday Mood and the College Essays.

College Essay Advice: “Don’t Worry About Being Smart, Just Be Yourself” ~Monica Geller/Friends

“Who Says I’m Going to College?”

What Not To Ask a High School Senior (trust me)

Acumen Test Prep and Admissions Consulting Lancaster, PA