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Truth . . . or Harmony?
When my kids were little, I read a really excellent parenting book called The Biggest Job We’ll Ever Have by Laura and Malcolm Gauld. One of the foundational maxims of the book was “Truth Over Harmony.” You know. Don’t sweep things under the rug. Don’t ignore or recharacterize your kids’ or your own missteps or failings or… Read more
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Why You Should Manage Your Kids’ Screen Time this Summer and Six Ways to do it
Ahhhhhh. Summer. Time to slow things down. To reconnect with the fam during long walks in the woods and afternoons on the beach or evenings around a bonfire. To really savor one another and make those memories that will become the inside jokes and half-true stories and embarrassing nicknames that will split sides and bond… Read more
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Four Reasons Your Kids Need to Study the Arts
Confession: I am not an artist. I can’t paint. I don’t play an instrument. My efforts on the dance floor reflect significantly more enthusiasm than rhythm and my singing voice is best heard during a rousing rendition of happy birthday, sung loudly by a crowd. My creative impulses, such as they are, tend to show… Read more
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Why, if You Don’t Already Have One, You Need a CV
Last month, my oldest daughter graduated from Temple University Beasley School of Law, my alma mater. It was a beautiful day and ceremony, and it reminded me of the many, many things I love about the school. The compassion and open fondness the teachers share with the students. The palpable understanding that nobody gets through… Read more
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Celebrating Mother’s Day
Three of my kids will be home for Mother’s Day this weekend. They’re planning a little something for me which, though I don’t know the details, will very likely involve scrapple in the morning, salmon in the evening, and a long afternoon on the patio in between, soaking in a fire and sharing a bottle… Read more
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Honor Your Intuitive Bond with Your Child
I learned maybe my most important parenting lesson within minutes of giving birth to my oldest, Scout. The nurses had just cleaned her up, checked her APGAR scores and pronounced her perfect as they laid her on my chest for the first time, her little heart beating against mine. John and I were both crying,… Read more