My Mama
My Mama taught me how to walk, talk, laugh, and play. She sang softly in my ear when I was a baby and instilled in me a forever love of music. She read to me early and often, then taught…
The Compassion Experience
Back before social distancing started, my family and I participated in an event to help us get as close to someone in another part of the world as we could. We participated in The Compassion Experience. This immersive exhibit allows…
Battle
There are some nights when I collapse into my bed in complete weariness. Most nights I am ready for sleep, tired from all the running around and dishes and laundry and logistics and cleaning up, etc., etc. But I’m talking…
Making the Most of ALL This Family Time
These next weeks/months will likely set a record for the most family time any of us have ever had. Ever. We didn’t see this coming, but it’s here, and we are faced with a choice: We can either waste our…
How Does Your Garden Grow?
My husband Kevin has maintained a vegetable garden in our backyard for several years now. Some seasons it has gotten more attention than others. One summer’s garden was particularly great and produced an abundance of tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, peppers, lettuce,…
Teamwork in the Family
My husband likes to refer to our family as “Team Partridge” or “Team Peartree.” Teamwork is essential to family life, and I am understanding this concept more and more as my family has grown from five to seven members in…
True Love (As Seen on TV)
When I was a kid, I had a crush on John Schneider (“Bo Duke”) and Henry Winkler (“Fonzie”). In my teenage years, I had a crush on Michael J. Fox, Kirk Cameron, and later, Andre Agassi. I’m sure there were…
Parents Seeking Better Relationships with Their Children: Experiences Required
When you think back on your most treasured birthdays, holidays, and other special times with your family when you were growing up, you probably remember the experiences you had with them more than you remember the gifts they gave you.…
The Problem with 4
When I see a problem, I have a tendency to get tunnel vision. It feels like it’s my responsibility to solve or fix the problem, if it’s within my ability to do so. But it can consume me. My brain,…
Brothers and Sisters, Apples and Oranges: Handling Society’s Comparisons of Your Children
“I always hated being compared to my brother, because I could not perform like he did in school.” “I was constantly compared to my sister. I was the pretty one until she came along. Now I struggle believing that I’m…
