I admit it. I am a self-proclaimed optimist. A die-hard optimist, to be exact. Most people who know me would describe me that way as well. So I’ve been thinking and thinking about all these school shootings and what can be done to stop them. The problem is so wide and complex. On a national,…
Details
For those who know me, you know I am not an alarmist. But this latest shooting has me shaken, even though it happened 3000 miles from where I live. My friend’s good friend’s daughter attends the school in Oregon where it happened. And this …map is even more alarming. What is happening in our world?…
Details
Another school year is ending and with it, another season of sports. Or is it? With today’s hard-driving emphasis on youth sports, seasons do not really “end” anymore, do they? For my children, their sports and activities have come to a close as of this weekend; no more “winter” swimming, no more dance performances, no…
Details
The Days Are Long But The Years Are Short ~ Gretchen Ruben I love this quote and find it to be so true about life, and especially about parenting. The days, especially with young children, can seem unbearably long, but talk to any parent with older or grown kids and they will tell you they…
Details
I’m sitting here with my mother-in-law, my children, nieces and nephew at the Memorial Day parade in Bridesburg in Philadelphia. My mother-in-law grew up on the block that we are sitting on. Since I first met my husband at age 18, I have been coming here. We would have breakfast at my husband’s grandparents house…
Details
I want to share a story about what happened at my work last night as a therapist with foster kids. The little girl, who is four years old, had been having a very difficult day. The foster mom believed that she was struggling with missing her biological mom. The little girl was fighting constantly with…
Details
I would like to give a heartfelt thanks to all the amazing, talented, dedicated, caring, creative, energetic teachers out there. I went with my 6 year old on a field trip to a museum yesterday and witnessed two incredible instances of teachers going above and beyond. First, my son’s teacher got a new student in…
Details
Today is Sydney’s angel day. 13 years ago around 6 o’clock in the morning I had to hand my newborn daughter’s lifeless body over to the funeral home worker to put her in a bag and drive away with her. It was the single most awful and gut-wrenching thing I have ever been forced to…
DetailsHere’s an awesome conversation I had with my 8 year old yesterday. Faith: Most people like me, but there are some people who don’t like me. Me: Well….(trying to think of a way to soften the blow of her statement. For her or for me???) Faith: (Totally serious and humble) That’s ok though. It doesn’t…
Details
I just found out about this book called Hardwiring Happiness by Dr. Rick Hanson. In his book, grounded in neuroscience, he explains how we can rewire our brains to strengthen the parts of our brain that feel happiness and positivity just the same way we can strengthen our muscles with exercise. He suggests taking about…
Details