Giving New Meaning to Parenting

While I knew it was inevitable I am often surprised, in a good way, and sometimes saddened by how independent my children are getting. As I started writing they walked into the dining room and pulled open the blinds to view the Christmas lights in our front yard. They are making a game of it [...]

Do you ever feel powerless?  What can you do to change that?
Sometimes it means saying no.  Sometimes it means walking away.  Sometimes it means not engaging in a conflict.  Sometimes it means recognizing when you are getting the fuzzy end of the lollipop and deciding you are tired of that as well.
I had a fight [...]

What a difference a year makes. As I did several times last year, I went along as a chaperone on a field trip with my son’s summer camp the other day. As the morning went on, I was suddenly struck with how quickly he’s growing up. He was hanging out with his school friends, [...]

On Sunday Copy Cat bit Pack Rat really, really hard on the hand. Pack Rat was screaming and crying out in pain. Immediately, Copy Cat crawled behind the rocking chair in their playroom because she knew she was in trouble. Dad when in to discipline her, but she cowered even farther behind the chair where [...]

For several years, Hope and I had this thing. Every night I was home, which was most nights, I would sit by her bed. We’d read. We’d pray. And then we’d do the oddest combination of hugs and kisses and knocks on the head and head bangs and two or three other things. We would [...]

I took TechnoBoy and The Mercenary for their very first sports physical today. At the tender age of 10, they’ll be starting football practice in a few weeks. I have to say, the whole thing is a little unnerving. I didn’t start any formal sports until I was in the 7th grade. [...]

I’ve heard that first borns tend to develop leadership qualities. Right now, I’m wondering if that will be the case for my daughter Miss K. She is the first born, by 10 minutes, but her “little” sister bosses her around. Miss A is taller and appears to have developed leader qualities at the prime age [...]