• I have two teenagers and I have no idea how they grew up so quickly.
• They don't ask for toys for Christmas anymore, they want my time.
• They roll their eyes in disgust if I offer my time, and if I take too long to respond they move on.

I was surrounded by boxes. Boxes of decorations that still needed to be unpacked, boxes of holiday cards that still needed to be written, boxes of gifts to be wrapped and mailed. And there was my 13-year-old son, nearly as tall as me, standing in the doorway while I surveyed the chaos and contemplated how many days there were until Christmas.

"Hey, Mama. Do you want to go to Starbucks, just the two of us?"

There was so much still to be done and only a few weekend hours left to do it. But I looked at my son, whose face had started to look more like a young adult's than a little kid's, and I said, "Sure, baby, why not?"

I didn't think time would go by so fast

I don't know how it happened so fast, but I have two teenage sons. Thinking back on their little kid Christmases, filled with toys, games, and stuffed animals, I remember the whirlwind of excitement — and exhaustion. I knew they wouldn't always believe in Santa Claus (or wake me up before dawn to open their presents), but it still felt like those magical years would stretch on forever.

This Christmas, though, they're 13 and 15, and their gift requests have shifted from PAW Patrol and Transformers to clothes, tech, and — most unexpectedly — my time.

They don't typically ask for my time outright. If I'm not paying attention or I hesitate too long, the moment will slip away, and they'll move on to something else — usually something that involves a screen, a group chat, and a world to which I'm decidedly not invited.

But every now and then, they let me in. For my 13-year-old, it might look like a quick trip to Starbucks, where we order our favorite drinks, and he fills me in on the latest eighth-grade drama. Or it might be him helping me bake a batch of my "famous" gingersnaps while rattling off information he's accumulated over the course of a school week: what car his friend's dad drives, trivia about the newest roller coaster at Walt Disney World, or how his English teacher knew Bruce Springsteen growing up. For the past two months, it's been an occasional request to run lines with him as he studies his role as Colonel Mustard. Last fall, it was getting up early on vacation to watch the sunrise with me.

My 15-year-old is more low-key because he's an introvert like me. His requests for my time often sneak up on me — and they don't always involve much talking. He might sit down unannounced to watch 20 minutes of an old "Grey's Anatomy" episode with me, tossing in a wry comment about the characters' questionable life choices or the episode's unlikely disaster. Or, like last weekend, he might surprise me by coming home from a friend's house and launching into a detailed account of their "Dungeons and Dragons" campaign, his face lighting up as he recounts every plot twist. On rare occasions, he'll call me into the office to show me what he's doing in 3D computer graphics — a skill he's learned entirely on his own — while I marvel at his creativity.

They don't want it if I offer it

Giving my time to my teens isn't something I can wrap in a bow — and they'd absolutely roll their eyes in disgust if I offered them anything as cutesy as coupons for "Time With Mama." But it's the one gift they (sometimes) genuinely want. Not when it's convenient for me, but when they're ready: when they're stressed, excited, overwhelmed, or simply in the mood to share a moment, or an hour, of their life with me.

Setting aside whatever I'm doing to give them my full attention is as much a gift for me as it is for them. These aren't big, shiny moments — they're quiet, fleeting ones. But being able to give my teens my time is a reminder to myself to slow down and appreciate this life I get to share with them. They're memories I can savor as these teenage years fly by — and moments I hope they'll hold on to when they head off to college and, eventually, into busy lives of their own.

This year, there won't be a mountain of overpriced and unwanted presents under the tree, but there will be time. As much as they want, whenever I can give it. And while I sometimes miss those chaotic Christmases of early childhood, I know I will look back on these quieter days with my teens just as fondly.

• NASA's Parker Solar Probe is about to make its closest approach to the sun.
• The spacecraft will fly within 3.8 million miles of the solar surface.
• The spacecraft is collecting essential data that can help inform forecasting models on Earth.

The fastest human-made object is hurtling toward the sun at this very moment, approaching speeds of 430,000 mph — and on December 24, it's scheduled to make history.

NASA's Parker Solar Probe launched in 2018 and has completed 21 close flybys around the sun. However, its mission on Christmas Eve will be unlike any other.

At 6:53 a.m. ET, the spacecraft is set to fly the closest to the sun of any human-made object. The mission will take it closer than any previously scheduled or planned future approaches.

If all goes to plan, the uncrewed spacecraft will come within 3.8 million miles of the solar surface.

NASA anticipates the probe will experience temperatures of 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit, which shouldn't be an issue since the spacecraft's protective heat shield is designed to withstand temperatures over 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit.

Yes, 3.8 million miles is far by Earth's standards, but it's ridiculously close when you're out in deep space.

It's like if you put the Earth and sun at opposite ends of an American football field: "Parker Solar Probe is on the 4-yard line approaching the sun," Joe Westlake, Director of NASA's Science Mission Directorate's Heliophysics Division, told 6abc Philadelphia.

"It is getting so close that we're actually in the sun's upper atmosphere. We're actually touching the sun with humanity's first mission to a star," Westlake added.

The moment NASA has been waiting for

The Christmas Eve flyby is the moment the mission has been building up to for years.

"This close approach is only possible because of the mission's orbital design," a NASA spokesperson told Business Insider via email.

"The spacecraft had to shed a lot of orbital energy to get this close to the sun, so that's why it took several years," the spokesperson added.

Over the years the Parker Solar Probe, about the size of a small car, has made increasingly close flybys.

For example, in September 2020, it flew within 8.4 million miles of the solar surface. By September 2023, it reached within 4.5 million miles.

When the spacecraft makes these close approaches, it cuts communication with Earth and flies autonomously, guiding itself through the sun's harsh upper atmosphere until it's far enough away to reestablish coms.

NASA last heard from Parker Solar Probe on December 22 and expects to hear from it again around midnight between Thursday and Friday, Nour Rawafi, Parker Solar Probe project scientist at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab, said during a recent NASA livestream.

While flying so close to the sun doesn't hold any promise of discovering alien life there or paving the way for future crewed missions to walk on the solar surface, the Parker Solar Probe's mission is, arguably, more important.

Here's what you need to know about this historic mission and how it could help humanity solve some of the world's biggest questions.

Parker Solar Probe is helping us answer the big questions

It may appear calm and quiet from far away, but the sun is a turbulent sphere of activity. It's got solar flares and massive eruptions that fire fast-moving, charged particles deep into our solar system.

"Without that activity, we would not exist. That activity is really necessary for life to kick off," Rawafi said during NASA's livestream.

So, on a grand scale, understanding how our sun works can help us better understand how life originated on Earth and where it might exist elsewhere in the universe.

Also, by studying our own star up close, we can learn how other stars in the universe interact "with the billions and billions of other planets that may or may not be like our own planets," Alex Young, associate director for science communication in NASA's Heliophysics Science Division, said during the livestream.

Wishing for the biggest explosion ever

Rawafi said the best gift the sun could give scientists during Parker Solar Probe's coming approach is "one of the strongest explosions ever."

The sun is currently at a solar maximum — a period of peak solar magnetic activity lasting one to two years and causing powerful flares, eruptions, and ejections.

Sometimes, the charged particles from these eruptions reach Earth. When that happens, it can disrupt satellites, mess with GPS, and subsequently ground flights. It can also expose astronauts to high levels of space radiation.

As we continue to launch more satellites and people into space, these solar events are a growing threat. Yet, scientists don't have a highly accurate forecasting model for warning satellite operators and astronauts far in advance.

That's why Rawafi wants a big explosion: The probe would be in a perfect position to study the event mere moments after it occurs, offering scientists swaths of data that could help inform and improve forecasting models.

Parker Solar Probe has already collected so much data during its years of operation that it will take decades to study it all, Rawafi said at the American Geophysical Union annual meeting in early December.

According to NASA, the spacecraft is scheduled to complete 24 orbits around the sun, with its last two planned for 2025.

People who live with the pollution from plastics and petrochemical facilities hope the stalled talks on a global plastics treaty will limit plastic production.

Joey Logano reveals issue with the current NASCAR next-gen era after winning the 2024 Cup Series championship.

The supermodel wore a down puffer coat from luxury designer Raxxy as she, her husband and her four kids spend time skiing before Christmas

The pair initially collaborated on 'Oh Santa!' in 2010

Make a list and check it twice before boarding that plane or hopping in that car—and be ready to hit the ground running when you arrive.

The exact details of what former Islanders netminder Robin Lehner is going through are not completely clear, but the string of posts 10 days ago made it obvious that it is serious. 

Somebody running the graphics for ESPN’s coverage of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl was having a rough day. 

The BBC goes on patrol with the Kenyan officers sent to quell violence in gang-ravaged Haitian capital Port-au-Prince.

The 42nd president is at a Washington DC hospital, and is in "good spirits", according to a spokesman.

A cargo ship rolls over as it is being loaded at a port in Istanbul in the early hours of Monday morning.

Kennesaw, Georgia became the first American town to require people to own a gun in the 1980s.

Officials say inmates will not receive visits during the festive season for security reasons.

The cost of living crisis has “boosted” the secondhand industry, Sky News has been told, as more than £2bn is spent on pre-loved gifts this Christmas.

Hyundai said Monday it will send customers who have bought or leased an EV before January 31 a free charging adapter that will let them access Tesla’s supercharging network. The Hyundai-authorized adapter will give CCS-port-equipped Hyundai EV drivers access to more than 20,000 Tesla Superchargers in the United States, according to Hyundai. Free adapters will […]

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Bill Clinton is on the mend. The former President of the United States is recovering after being hospitalized in Washington, D.C. for a fever, a spokesperson for Clinton confirmed to NBC...

The ultimate Aspen rich mom, Real House of Beverly Hills star Kyle Richards is showing Us how to slay Aprés ski style!

The Bravo reality star was just spotted walking one of her many adorable dogs while on the streets of Aspen, Colorado on December 21, 2024. For the walk through the town many of the rich and famous flock to in the winter months, Richards a cozy-yet-chic outfit, with a hint of western edge. She wore a black puffer jacket from Prada, with some slightly distressed medium wash jeans, a black cowboy hat and some comfy chelsea boots!

Wanting to channel Aspen rich mom style for ourselves, we found a lookalike version of her boots that are just $34! We don’t know where Richards got her exact pair from, but knowing her usual designer picks, our version is likely a fraction of the cost!

Get the Pennysue Women’s Platform Chelsea Booties for just $34!

Hailey Bieber's Cool Rich Mom Bomber Jacket Look is Just $28!

Recreate Richards’ comfy winter rich mom look for less with the Pennysue Women’s Platform Chelsea Booties. Like the mom of four’s pick, these boots also feature a thick, chunky sole, a Chelsea silhouette and rounded toe. Great for winter weather (such as for a weekend on the slopes), they’re made of a non-slip rubber outsole.

Making them easy to slip on and off, they feature an elastic ankle band design. They’re also made of a sleek PU leather, they’re easy to wash, which is crucial when walking in the house with muddy feet.

They come in a similar black leather style to Richards’ choice, which is a great pick if you’re looking for a versatile style that’ll go with just about everything in your closet. However, if you’re looking to switch it up and do something different, there are options for that as well. You can select between other options as well like beige, cream, brown and white too. Find them in sizes 6 to 10.

Richards showed Us the boot style can be worn with everyday ‘fits like a jacket and a pair of jeans. But the boots go beyond just that! They actually can be dressed up as well, able to be worn with a mini skirt, a sweater and some leggings or maybe even a sweater dress too. Of course, they can also be worn with leggings and a sweatshirt as well for running quick errands or taking a winter walk with your dog.

Shop Jennifer Garner's Slimming Bootcut Jeans Look for Just $28

 

Need to check out a few more options before making your final buy? We hear you! We rounded up a few more options below so you can find the right Chelsea boots for your feet!

Shop more women’s Chelsea boots that we love:

• Time and Tru Lug Chelsea Boots — was $28, now $15!
• Madden NYC Women’s Lug Chelsea Boots — was $32, now $19!
• Journee Ivette Tru Comfort Foam Pull On Block Heel Booties — $80!
• EONROACOO Waterproof Rubber Ankle Rainboots — was $24, now $15!
• Steve Madden Hutch Leather Lugged Sole Chelsea Boots — $58!

Not your style? Explore more women’s chelsea boots here and don’t forget to check out all of Walmart’s Holiday Savings for more great finds!

This $17 Sweater Looks Just Like Jennifer Garner’s Recent Style

©

King Charles III is breaking Christmas tradition with his annual speech.

The royal family’s official Instagram account shared a photo from Charles’ prerecorded holiday broadcast on Monday, December 23, revealing that this year’s message was filmed in the Fitzrovia Chapel in London. The location appears to have a special connection to the ongoing health crisis Charles, 76, has been experiencing throughout the past year.

“Formerly the chapel of Middlesex Hospital, it is now a space for quiet reflection, discovery and celebration, connecting diverse communities from all faiths or none,” the Instagram caption read, noting that Charles’ grandfather King George VI “laid the foundation stone of the building” in 1928.

This year’s Christmas broadcast was the first time in 14 years that the speech was not filmed on a royal estate. Monday’s Instagram caption also revealed that the Christmas tree featured in the prerecorded package was donated to Croydon BME Forum and Macmillan Cancer Support’s ‘Can You C Me?’ project and will be placed in the Royal Trinity Hospice in London.

Palace Gives Update on Charles' Cancer Days Before Scheduled Royal Return

Every year, the reigning monarch records a Christmas broadcast that gets played via television and radio at 3 p.m. local time. This year’s message comes nearly a year after Charles announced in February that he had been diagnosed with cancer. (The following month, Princess Kate Middleton revealed her cancer diagnosis as well.)

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A post shared by The Royal Family (@theroyalfamily)

“During The King’s recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer,” Buckingham Palace shared in a statement at the time. “His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties. Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual.”

The type of cancer has never been publicly specified. However, Charles has returned to his public-facing duties.

The king is set to continue undergoing chemotherapy in the new year, a recent report revealed on Friday, December 20. The treatment is part of a “managed condition” as his health is already headed in a “positive direction,” ABC News shared at the time.

Look Back at the Royal Family’s Christmas Cards Over the Years

Charles proved he was in good spirits that same day when joking with reporters about his wellbeing.

“I’m still alive,” he joked while at Waltham Forest Town Hall on Friday.

In October, Buckingham Palace confirmed to Hello! Magazine that Charles’ rigorous schedule will not change going into the new year.

“We’re now working on a pretty normal-looking full overseas tour program for next year, which is a high point for us, knowing that we can think in those terms,” the spokesperson said at the time.

Patrick Duffy praised Step by Step for not shying away from the more adult implications about the relationship between his and Suzanne Somers‘ characters.

During an episode of Staci Keanan and Christine Lakin‘s “Keanan and Lakin Give You Déjà Vu” rewatch podcast, the former costars addressed how some viewers referred to the show as “horny” after watching it back over the years.

“I could not believe that anyone would say that,” Keanan, 49, said in an episode from earlier this month. “I thought, ‘What are they talking about? Our show is a very wholesome and sweet family show.’ Now I start [re]watching the show [and I understand].”

Duffy, 75, joked about the undertones, adding, “It’s not like we demanded it. But we always pushed for the reason these two families got together on a whim and on a vacation. They got married after knowing each other for two days.”

‘Step by Step’ Cast: Where Are They Now?

Step by Step chose to lean into the subtext. “It wasn’t because we were both good at playing poker. So every chance that we could, we wanted to go upstairs and we couldn’t because we had a house full of kids, you know. And they wrote to that — and we played to that,” Duffy recalled. “We thought it was important. We could be appropriately attracted to one another and also good parenting models.”

The sitcom, which aired from 1991 to 1998, followed single parents Frank (Duffy) and Carol (Somers) who each had three children from previous relationships. They met by chance and quickly married, blending their families together.

“People have come up to me and have said that watching that show was pivotal for them as a child. They wanted — if they didn’t have one — a dad like that,” Duffy recalled. “One young man came up and said, ‘I watched the show and ever since I started watching the show as a young person, I said, I want to be a dad like that. I wanna have a dad like that and then I wanna be a dad like that if I ever have children.’ So we fulfilled a certain function.”

'90s Stars Then and Now: Melissa Joan Hart, Macaulay Culkin and More

Duffy did have one plot point he wasn’t thrilled to explore on screen.

“I had a disagreement [with the writers] when Suzanne wanted to get pregnant,” he shared about his costar, who died in October 2023. “I thought it was irresponsible. I thought we were a six-child family of a woman who was theoretically a beautician — but we never saw her work after the first two seasons — and a struggling contractor.”

Somers, however, wanted the story line so their characters welcomed daughter Lilly in season 4. “It wasn’t so much that she wanted another child on the show,” Duffy explained. “She just thought she could act that out, being pregnant, and she could. It’s a funny thing to have her doing all the Lucille Ball stuff. She was in heaven, it made her happy. So I was fine.”