Like a lot of people my age I was spanked as a child. It was the way most of us were raised. I am emotionally strong and naturally resilient. I made friends easily. I succeeded academically. I minded my parents without creating too much conflict in the home. I likely cried and yelled ...
6 Things to Consider Before the Difficult Choice to Medicate Your Child for ADHD
Tears rolled down my eight year old daughter's cheeks barely able to choke out her words, "They don't want to play with me." No, children at school did not exclude her. Nobody teased her. Her sisters upset her because they were not playing with her. In actuality, her sisters cherish playtime ...
How a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree Saved a Lonely Thanksgiving
It was Thanksgiving, and my toddler daughter and I were alone. My family lived halfway across the country. The other side of the family doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving. And Papa was scheduled to work a long shift. A Thanksgiving feast was not going to happen. It's lonely to have no extended ...
Are You Glad That Out of Control Kid Isn’t Your’s?
You sit under the shade of a large oak tree while your children wearing bathing suits play under the water fountains. It's a perfect afternoon except for that kid. This child screams profanities, throws mulch, and wails on the mom. What do you do when you see that kid? Do you criticize the ...
7 Ways to Give Your Children a Love of the Outdoors on a Small Budget
It was gone. The backyard I had lovingly transformed from a boring suburban yard into an oasis of native plants, a vegetable garden, and shrubs perfect for hidey holes for the kids sold to another family. It had been filled with almost a decade of beautiful memories for my family. Watching ...