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July 2010
I love the 4th of July! Not just for the fireworks, parades, music, watermelon, and barbecue picnics, but because this is a great country. Do your children appreciate the United States of America? Do they know who shaped this nation or w...
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June 2010
While ferrying between Lopez Island, Orcas Island, and Friday Harbor in the days leading up to Memorial Day, I was reminded of how much effort it takes to see new places and reconnect with old friends. It's impossible to drive from one ...
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May 2010
Think of May, its sights and sounds. Flowers in bloom, blossoming trees, birds singing, baseball games, and a time for planting all come to mind. Compare these signs to our families. This month plant something new. Have a "spring-fresh" at...
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April 2010
Why did people begin pulling pranks on April 1st? My curiosity led me to the first reference to April Fool's Day found in a 1539 Flemish poem. "It described a man who sent his servant on a series of wild goose chases on April 1," says Ale...
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March 2010
Spring cleaning, whether in the yard or the house, is a welcome thing to do. But what if we decided to do some spring cleaning in our personal lives as well? Throwing out a bad habit makes us feel better about ourselves. It also increase...
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February 2010
I've just returned from a few days with my 94 year-old auntie. Since my dad has already passed on, her stories about our family's history will be lost forever if I don't take time to sit and hear them. Over the last century her life's b...
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January 2010
Something old, something new...both are part of a new year. January is the perfect month to set out new goals and family plans. Envision the year ahead as a blank slate waiting to be written on. Some things we know will happen, like a h...
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December 2009
This month is full of activities. Most people have an expectation of what Christmas should look llike, feel like, smell like. Often those expectations fall short; especially for families who have been fractured or suffered loss. Memorie...
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November 2009
When I heard my mother say, "Thank you," I learned the importance of being thankful. When a neighbor thanked my dad for the loan of his livestock trailer, I was able to learn what it meant to give and receive ...
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October 2009
Most of us can relate to a child's curiosity about all kinds of things. While at the beach a few weeks ago our five-year-old granddaughter was busily digging in the sand, ever deeper and deeper. "Gracie," I ask...
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September 2009
Boys and girls can use a little help getting back on a school friendly schedule. Six things a parent might do to help children adjust:
1) Express excitement about learning; be a learner...
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August 2009
End summer on a playful note. Play is a great way to gather feelings of well-being. Both children and adults benefit from playing outside. The fresh air dissolves tension and boosts our metabolism.&nb...
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July 2009
July is a special month for the United States of America. July 4, 1776 is our national birthday. What a great month to do some family bonding and have a lot of fun, too. Ask family members to participate in a scavange...
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June 2009
Children of all ages are ready for the freedom of summer. What will fill their days? The answer might depend on what's available in your neighborhood and the cost involved. This is where grandparents, aunts, and uncles can add value. ...
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April 2009
As parents, it's easy to become frustrated with a child's apparent inability to understand what we are saying or asking him to do. There could be a lack of attention to detail, an absence of interest, or a distraction taking pla...
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March 2009
Who doesn't like an Oreo cookie? The chocolate wafers and ooey-gooey frosting center are so much fun to eat. It's hard to stop at just one or two. This month I'm suggesting you think of problem solving within the family ...
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February 2009
This month begins on Super Bowl Sunday. Millions of people huddle around TV sets all across America cheering for their favorite team to win. There will be touchdowns and fumbles. For sure each player give...
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January 2009
We all pursue happiness. But happy is an elusive word; we can't quite hang onto it's promise because happy or unhappy is a state of mind. Circumstances tend to control our personal happy me...
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December 2008
Gift giving, and the hustle that accompanies the task, tops personal priority lists around the world this month. But is the stuff Christmas has come to represent really the reason we celebrate? Of ...
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November 2008
Children know a whole lot about promises. Promises are meant to be kept; a cross-your-heart kind of trust not to be broken. Yet many kids learn young that Mommy or Daddy might say one thing and not keep their word. A trip to the zoo&...
