Giving New Meaning to Parenting

Last week we traveled to Durango, CO to spend a week in the mountains with my husband’s family. This is the fourth year we have vacationed with the in-laws for 1 week during the summer. It is a good opportunity for our children to spend some quality time with the grandparents. We travel to a [...]

Just last evening we got the call: one of Hubby’s elderly aunts is in very poor health and the nursing home suggested the family come in to say goodbye. We live about a hundred miles from that branch of the family, so a fast trip over there wasn’t really possible. The younger boys [...]

In my area we have a place called the Arizona Science Center. They have rooms with themes and exhibits similar to a museum, but unlike a museum you can touch or play with some of the displays. Right now they have an traveling exhibit on Fears. Did you know there is a fear of the [...]

The first time I fainted was during band practice when I was a freshman in high school. We were outside and it was hot. I vividly recall saying to the gal next to me (her name was Daphne), “I don’t feel very good.” She responded back, “I don’t feel good either.” The next thing I [...]

The joy of having kids is that they teach you about growing up as a process.
When we were going through it ourselves, we have no perspective on what’s next.  Being a grown up seems like a dream to kids, with all the money, power and respect of a super hero.   From an adult’s perspective, being [...]

I have always believed very strongly that a parent should do everything they can to avoid falling into the trap of favoritism. When a parent adores one child over another, either openly or subtly, the child who feels that he or she is less loved never shakes that feeling. It can cloud their entire life. [...]

Even when I have time off, I seem to bring my kids with me. Yesterday, I escaped from home for a few hours to get my hair colored. It is about my only indulgence and one of the few times I get to be on my own without kids in tow. While talking [...]

We’re 25 days into 2010. 25 days into our resolutions.
Rob and I sat down today and reviewed our financial and family goals. We committed them to paper. We scheduled our next meeting.
We asked ourselves, what are we doing today to meet tomorrow’s goals?
And now I’ll ask you: What are you [...]

We’ve been having some weather here in SoCal these past few weeks. Interesting to get weather here, as we normally have a steady 72º and Sunny. This new weather consists of gentle rain, with the occasional gusts of wind. The past 24 hours brought us more of this new weather, expanded, with heavier rain and [...]

We all know someone we care about who is (or has) dating or is married to someone we don’t care much for. When I was a teenager (in-between high school and college) I dated a guy my parents hated, and for good reason. I didn’t know that they knew he pushed me around and was [...]