Yesterday my husband and I had nursery duty at our church. It is a wonderful nursery filled with toys that I found myself wishing I had known about even five years ago for our grandchildren. This time there was only one absolutely adorable 20 month old girl to watch. When it came time for her …
Have you ever noticed that when you get a phone call with unexpected news your mind shifts gears? Isn’t it amazing how everything can shift for you in a split second? Your mood shifts, your mind shifts, and your plans often shift! Did you know that something as simple as one word can sometimes have …
I am thinking today about school and teachers. It is that time of year again. In truth, we are all teachers of our children. We parents and grand parents are all teachers in the purest sense of the calling. In that sense I am also remembering two important things. We sometimes get worried sick about …
Summertime can be the season for “boo-boos.” At some point during the summer you can be pretty sure that many children (and adults) have sported a wound. Parents have likely scouted for ice cubes, cool cloths, fancy band aids, first aid cream, itch medicine etc. to apply to scraped knees, split open chins, bee stings …
I cannot believe how much my inner world fluctuates lately between being soulful and silly. I have been doing lots of reading, research, and note taking in areas that I believe will be helpful for people who are either re-parenting themselves (isn’t that most of us???) and/or parenting children. On the soulful side, I …
This summer I have been thinking a lot about roots and wings. As you already know, I have been fascinated by hummingbird wings. It has reawakened memories. When I was a child struggling with low self-esteem, I daydreamed about what it would be like to have wings like birds and butterflies. Interestingly, my …
He is six years old and proudly tells you so. As with all children, I learn so much about life and about myself from him. This time a couple of lessons came from watching him play a game of balance. A Wii game for him, a metaphor for me. It happened a couple of weeks …
I hate to admit it, but I am intimately acquainted with shame and guilt. I am on a quest to be free and to inspire freedom in others from life-stripping shame and needless guilt. I also want to encourage parents and teachers to avoid shame-based ways of shaping children’s behavior. What is an example of …
For years I have been reluctant to use the word “happy” as a desired value. I think that is because, like love, “happiness” is misrepresented. From my perspective, intellectuals and religious models in my life have emphasized all things profound and responsible. Having been raised within a strict Christian context, being obedient, selfless, ambitious, faithful, …
This morning Tom followed me as we drove separately to the restaurant for coffee. While waiting for the light to turn green so I could cross the main highway, my mind wandered. I was deep in thought about a wonderful young mom I had coached last evening. Meanwhile, I was not fully engaged in driving. …