“I’m rubber and you’re glue --- whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you.” This singsong phrase is well-known in elementary school as a smart retort to unkind words. It seems appropriate to begin today's discussion of how kids develop resilience --- that marvelous ability to bounce back. I’m concerned that in our zealousness to make sure that...[ read more ]

  Having choices is wonderful … up to a point. The problem for many moms is that families are on decision-making overload. It can become really hard to identify what choices are truly important when life is one constant stream of decisions. I would like to sing the praises of setting some guidelines for your family that cut down on...[ read more ]

  If cooking and baking are a hobby for you, and if you get true enjoyment out of spending time on your feet preparing food, three times a day or more --- well, I am not talking to you today. You may skip reading this and go stir something. However, for a lot of us, preparing food every. single. day....[ read more ]

I have seldom been able to convince my husband to attend a sunrise service on Easter morning. Last year I think he mumbled something about volunteering to sit outside in the cold and dark being unnatural. (Probably why he has never taken up deer hunting). He truly is the engine that has gotten us to church, as well as Sunday...[ read more ]

Do you ever find yourself not really present in anything you do? When you are with your child, your thoughts are on work or your to-do list; when you are at work or running errands, your thoughts are on your child. This is backwards and robs you of the satisfaction that comes from being totally invested in anything. Practice being...[ read more ]

I saw the movie “Babies” last night. It is a marvelous documentary of the lives of four infants around the world, from birth to toddlerhood. The babies were from San Francisco, Tokyo, rural Mongolia, and rural Namibia. I was struck by both the similarities and differences. Here are some of my take-aways: All babies cry in the same language. Babies...[ read more ]

Ah, food issues. Aren’t they just great? Sarcasm intended. If food issues in your home have escalated into a battle royal --- or if you are just tired of pouring love, thought, and lots of work into preparing food only to have it rejected or complained about --- it’s time to rethink the whole thing. This is not going to...[ read more ]

Your sweet little toddler or preschooler is going to be a cute kindergartener in just a few short years. Here are some suggestions from the kindergarten teacher’s point of view on how to emotionally prepare her for kindergarten. When preparing your child for school always keep in mind that the teacher is sharing her time with a group of children,...[ read more ]

You can’t control anybody but yourself. Not your baby. Not your child. Certainly not your teenager. Not your own mother. Not your husband. Not your best friend. You have to set priorities. If everything is important, nothing is important. The trivial will take over your life if you let it. Taking care of yourself = having the stamina to take...[ read more ]