Archive for the 'Parenting' Category

The Lady’s Hug

A beautiful story, especially for parents who get asked the question, “Is Santa real?”~ Angela Gentile 

The traffic in town crawled. Shoppers walked faster than the bumper-to-bumper cars could move.

“Just a few more blocks,” I muttered. There was so much to do and the heavy traffic was wasting precious time.

Finally, we found a parking spot right in front of Mapes – our destination.

Mapes was one-of-a-kind store that sold hardware, sewing notions, corny greeting cards and household goods. It’d been a fixture in town for decades. The kids loved the toy aisle, which was stocked with board games, puzzles and “must-have” items like silly putty, jump ropes and slinkys.

This visit to Mapes had special… Continue reading

Published on Tuesday December 6, 2011 in Love, Parenting, Spirit and Writings. 4 Comments Tags: , , , .

Allow Allow Allow

‎”The first step toward change is acceptance. Once you accept, you open the door to change. That’s all you have to do. Change is not something you do, it’s something you allow.” ~ Will Garcia 

I love Facebook. Among the endless game requests (which I hide), baby photos (which I adore) and rants (* to be discussed)  I also find gems of inspiration like the quote above.  It was posted by Chris Cade, a man who describes himself as a “reluctant hero” on a journey to empower others. 

So Chris’s quote got me thinking about Facebook rants again. (My last blog was about one of my own Facebook rants – see Kardashian Krazy.) Facebook is a snapshot of life, so it’s no surprise… Continue reading

Published on Friday December 2, 2011 in Blogs and Parenting. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

Bearing Witness

Twenty-four years ago I became a mother for the first time. As I held my son, I felt tremendous waves of love, joy and fierce new feelings of protectiveness.

My inner Momma Bear was awake. Looking at the world through her keen senses, danger appeared to lurk everywhere. It was up to me to keep this little one safe.

As I dressed Frank in his way-too-big “going home” outfit, I remember feeling the full weight of responsibility settle on my shoulders. I couldn’t believe the hospital was just going to let me take this baby home. How would I know if he was eating enough? How would I know if he was sick? What if I made a mistake? What… Continue reading

Published on Wednesday August 10, 2011 in Blogs and Parenting. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Time to Talk

When a friend calls to me from the road
And slows his horse to a meaning walk,
I don’t stand still and look around
On all the hills I haven’t hoed,
And shout from where I am, What is it?
No, not as there is a time to talk.
I thrust my hoe in the mellow ground,
Blade-end up and five feet tall,
And plod: I go up to the stone wall
For a friendly visit.”

Robert Frost

First, let me apologize for the late release of this week’s blog post. I’m under no grand illusions (or delusions) that your life was on hold waiting for its release, but still, I like to keep to a predictable schedule of a new blog every Friday morning.

Here’s what happened. Last night… Continue reading

Published on Friday May 6, 2011 in Blogs and Parenting. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Lost in SPACE

I was a single parent when my children were young, so bedtime signaled the end of a non-stop day of activity.

Work. School. Homework. Sports. Dinner. Baths. Not to mention the inevitable emergency or last minute request that got layered on top of the busyness. (“Mom! I need a poster board for art class tomorrow!”) Although every parent is familiar with the repetitive series of events that fill most days – it seems especially intense for single parents.

Some nights it was tempting to rush through bedtime routines because I was tired but I knew that this was precious time to wind down the day together.

My son and daughter each had their favorite bedtime routine, which usually included some form of reading together, singing favorite songs… Continue reading

Published on Thursday January 27, 2011 in Blogs, Parenting and Space. 4 Comments Tags: , , .

A Child Shall Lead Them

Every now and then, life gives you a delightful surprise – like a summer ripe peach in January, or snow flurries on Christmas. Last Saturday, just as the Strong & Wise Workshop began, my niece walked into the room with her 6 year old daughter, Kaelyn. Megan looked flustered and apologetic for her lateness. Due to unforeseen circumstances, her babysitter fell through.

To be completely honest, I had a fleeting moment of concern. I was worried that Kaelyn might become bored, or the daylong workshop would be too long for such a young attention span. But I trusted that all was well and started the workshop.

As it turned out, having Kaelyn in the workshop was like driving down a scenic road… Continue reading

Published on Monday December 13, 2010 in Blogs, Love and Parenting. 2 Comments Tags: , .

The Meaning of No

One night, just before drifting off to sleep, I started giggling.

My husband muttered from his side of the bed, “Wanna share?”

“I was just thinking about the emails I sent asking people to send announcements about my web site launch to their friends. I noticed that I was getting upset at the thought that people might say no. So I realized something, because it’s hard for me to ask for support, I expect people to say yes when I do ask for something.”

And that made me giggle at my outrageousness.

Asking for support is a familiar challenge for me (and I know I’m not alone). I’m a classic “do-it-myself” person. You know the type. But there comes a time that we all need… Continue reading

Published on Monday December 6, 2010 in Blogs and Parenting. 2 Comments Tags: , .

Voicing My Wish

One evening, while writing the first draft of my book, I attended a writer’s group for feedback. There were so many people there that night that discussion was limited. When I arrived home, my (then) thirteen-year-old son shrugged off my disappointment and asked me to read the excerpt to him instead. So, I settled into a chair and read a rough draft of reflections on spending my allowance as a nine-year-old child.

As innocent as it seems, the experience was a metaphor for how choice and risk were handled by a child affected by alcoholism. Each week, the trip “down-the-avenue” culminated at Woolworth’s lunch counter where I dreamed of someday ordering a banana split.

An umbrella with colorful balloons hanging from each rib was suspended above the counter.… Continue reading

Published on Tuesday August 24, 2010 in Parenting and Writings. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Supermarket Tantrums

As a mother of two, I’m a veteran of many toddler fits and various other public embarrassments (“CLEAN UP, AISLE 10!”).

I have rushed many wiggling, barely potty-trained children through the smelly backrooms of supermarket stock areas, where inevitably, the even smellier employee bathroom appears at the farthest possible point.

I have apologetically abandoned half filled carts after a few particularly horrible tantrums. One time, although I hesitate to admit it, I even forgot to load a fully paid for cart of food into my car, because I was so distracted by a toddler’s fit. I slinked back shortly afterward and retrieved my cart, red-faced, from the manager’s office.

One incident, forever burned into my memory, took place when my son was 18 months old.

Frankie… Continue reading

Published on Tuesday August 24, 2010 in Parenting, Support and Writings. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

The Mark of Angels

Many years ago my husband and I visited Bern, the charming capitol of Switzerland. One evening, we had a night free of planned activities.

Feeling liberated from itineraries, we wandered through the medieval streets into the heart of Bern. The warm evening breeze had lured swarms of people into the town square. Old men played checkers at cement tables amid musicians, jugglers and other assorted street performers. Frank and I paused to drink in the carnival of sights and sounds.

An American accent rang out above the bustle. I grabbed Frank’s hand and pulled him toward the sound of home.

“One… Two… Three!”

A burst of laughter erupted from the crowd around a juggler. I moved in closer, drawn in by his act and familiar accent.… Continue reading

Published on Tuesday August 24, 2010 in Forgiveness, Parenting, Serendipity, Spirit and Writings. 0 Comments Tags: , , .