In an October 12, 2007 on The Wall Street Journal Online's "Juggle" blog, Karen Damato writes she uses horseback riding to keep her connection with her 14-year-old daughter close.

"Scheduling has gotten tougher since I switched from working part-time to full-shortly after her 12th birthday," Damato writes. 

One recent family tradition Damato tries to adhere to is going away for her daughter's birthday. Damato favors camping.  But this year the family settled for spending a Saturday night "at a gracious old hotel near a park where we went hiking the next day."