Gratitude: Let’s Follow Pollyanna’s Lead
Pollyanna gets a bad rap, and I always want to come to her defense. I know she is a fictional character, but she has been one of my favorite people since the first time I saw the classic Disney movie…
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year…for Teachable Moments
The holiday season is upon us, and although some things will probably be different this year (Thanks, 2020.), there will still be plenty of hustle and bustle to manage for ourselves and our families. But what if we did more…
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…
Growth Spurts: A Farewell and a Letter to My Younger Self
Note: This post was the final installment of my “Growth Spurts” column, which I wrote for Parents & Kids Magazine for nearly a decade. Please enjoy… I started writing “Growth Spurts” almost ten years ago. My three biological children were…
Gratefulness: Teach Your Children to Look Beyond Themselves
An attitude of thankfulness is sometimes hard to find in our increasingly me-centered society. Attitudes of selfishness and entitlement seem to run rampant, while attitudes of service and gratefulness are often squashed or might even be considered to be weak.…
The Mixed Emotions of Mother’s Day
Since this is the month of Mother’s Day, I wanted to write something about the greatness of all of our mothers. But as I sat down to write, I couldn’t stop thinking about the hard truth that the second Sunday…
Wisdom (or Something) at 40
I turn 40 years old this month. 40! I am really having a hard time believing it. No, I don’t think that 40 is old; I’m just surprised to have gotten here so quickly. So now that I’m in my fifth decade…
Now Available: Unlimited Fresh Starts
Fresh starts. New beginnings. Second chances. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like these ideas. And there’s something about a brand new year that gets us all excited about “starting over” and making changes and improvements in our lives. Undoubtedly,…
It’s Always Time to Be Thankful
November causes many of us to be particularly mindful of counting our blessings. I wish we didn’t need a reminder, but I’m glad we have it. I have found personally that when I am focused on being thankful, my perspective…
Teacher Appreciation?
It’s May, which means the end of another school year and time to thank all the teachers for another job well done! These men and women play such a vital role in our children’s lives that no thank-you gift or…
