Does this mean I have become my mother?

!Hola!

2009-04-19T09:55:00Z

!Hola! Sitting in an internet cafe in Barcelona, Spain I have decided to jot a quick blog. I am so amazed at the way we can connect with each other so easily across the world. I have found that even if I meet someone that speaks a different language I can eventually find a way to communicate -- if we work together to find common symbols, gestures or sounds that we both can understand. This is true in parenting as well. At different times we speak a different language than our children. But if we...(read more)

Shake Rattle and Roll

2009-04-02T13:23:00Z

Did any of you watch Oprah Tuesday 3/31? The show was awesome. For those of you that missed it, I will give you a short recap. The topic of the show was Parkinson's disease and Dystonia . Michael J Fox and Rogers Hartman were guests. For me these are topics that are very close to my heart. I'll start with a little personal information that I am, at times, reluctant to give. For the past 12 years my husband and I host a party to benefit Parkinson's disease. We call it Shake Rattle and...(read more)

Let it rain!

2009-03-26T13:08:00Z

Does anyone else out there love rainy days? I am a huge fan of rainy days. Living in a city where our climate includes all four seasons, I am fortunate to experience each season for approximately 3 months and then move on to a new season and new climate conditions. Fits my personality too, I love variety and spontaneity. This time of year brings a lot of rainy days where I live. Splashing in puddles, wiggling worms, and making indoor camps are just a few of the activities that I associate with rainy...(read more)

Cell phones

2009-03-19T00:07:00Z

Recently, I was asked to be the guest blogger for The Washington Post. My blog post was titled, Why my tween does not have a cell phone. and WOW-- did I get a reaction! The comments ranged from: In today's society of the "I want it now" parents are taking the value out of every stage of childhood. There is something to be said about letting kids be kids. I think it is important for kids to play in the neighborhood instead of having everyone minute planned. At the age of 12 our kids...(read more)

Manners

2009-03-18T14:04:00Z

"I did not raise you to act that way," was one of my mother's favorite lines. Sometimes when we were kids, my brothers would do something disgusting just to get her to say that very sentence. My mother was raised as an only child. Her parents were older and demanded mannerly behavior. She was in for a big surprise when she became the mother of 3 kids who were a bit spirited. Manners were something that she had to teach us. Sue Shellenbarger wrote a blog today about teaching your kids...(read more)

St. Paddy's Day

2009-03-17T12:40:00Z

For those of you that are from Irish descent--like me, (50% of my heritage is Irish), you already know what March 17 means-- lots of green! For those of you that do not have Irish blood, let me welcome you to our family; because on St. Paddy's day EVERYONE is allowed to be Irish! St. Paddy's Day is the feast day of St. Patrick, one of the patron saints of Ireland. Although, originally, St. Patrick's day was a religious celebration; it has since become a way for Ireland to let the world...(read more)

The Air Hockey Operating Table

2009-03-09T23:00:00Z

In keeping with the theme of inexpensive family fun, I began to reminisce about the things my daughter, (now 25 years old), used to play when she was young. One of the things I found fascinating about my daughter's "play-strategy," (I created that term to describe the way she typically did things when she played), was the way she used things for purposes other than for what they were really intended. The stuffed animals became students in her class and she was the teacher, the lidded...(read more)

A Mattress and a Human Habitrail ®

2009-03-06T14:24:00Z

It really is amazing how much fun your kids can have for free. I read a post by Brian Reid, blogger for On Parenting, Washington Post, titled, Money-Saving Tips for Family Fun. With so much focus on finances and the economy, it is the perfect time to talk about ways to have fun and not stress out over spending money. Besides many times the free-- or creative activities are way more fun, (and as a past day camp leader, I dig coming up with creative fun!) So.....I have decided to write a series of...(read more)

Gratitude

2009-03-04T21:41:00Z

I recently read an article that was, in part, titled, "from attitude to gratitude." The article was written about our economic crisis and how some are handling their financial situation. The article was written for an audience of financial advisors and investors. Not too long ago, I was interviewed for an online magazine called Inspired Mother - Turning Hardship into Hope . This article was written for an audience of parents. The reporter wanted to know my opinion on how to talk with your...(read more)

Vacation??

2009-02-27T17:07:00Z

Although winter is not nearly over our family began the conversation about summer vacation. Where should we go? Should we visit the beach? Or would it be more fun to take a long drive out west? As our conversation continued, I began to think about how fast time is passing. Soon our twelve year old will be wanting to spend time with his friends and activities more than us! And our daughter who has her own life only joins us sometimes. I know these thoughts aren't as if I have conquered rocket...(read more)

Chores

2009-02-19T22:26:00Z

When I hear the word "chores" I think of my mom telling my brothers and I that we were not allowed out to play until our chores were finished. We would laugh-- not to her face-- the word "chores" sounded like something Granny from the Beverly Hillbillies would say. Allowance? Never even heard of it until I was old enough to hangout with some kids that lived in a different neighborhood. We were told to do our chores because that was what you did-- no questions asked. Recently,...(read more)

Is there still such a thing as recess??

2009-02-11T01:01:00Z

Sue Shellenbarger recently wrote a blog for the Wall Street Journal Is Your Child's Day All Work and No Play? In the blog she talks about the fact that many schools have decided to give up recess and play time in order to fill the school day with structured academic study. As a mental health professional that works with children in a school setting, I have seen the changes over the years. Instruction time in schools is valuable. With all of the testing and curriculum requirements teachers are...(read more)

Check it out!

2009-02-07T21:11:00Z

Recently, I wrote a blog entitled, People Who Inspire Us, about a friend of mine who is paralyzed from the waist down and skis. An Indianapolis television station filmed a story about Chris and others who participate in the adaptive ski program at Perfect North Slopes. Check out this video it is INSPIRING !!...(read more)

What is a hero anyway?

2009-02-03T22:14:00Z

Recently, the news media has been focusing on Olympic swimming champion Michael Phelps and his "fall" from the pedestal that Americans have put him on for his sports accomplishments. People are asking, "How will this impact the kids who have looked at him as a role model?" Sue Shellenbarger wrote a blog entitled, When Kids Heroes Fall , (The Juggle, Wall Street Journal Parenting blog.) She poses the question, "What do you do when your kids' beloved idols' become fallen...(read more)

People who inspire us

2009-01-29T13:47:00Z

Recently an article ran in the Cincinnati Enquirer about the adaptive ski program at Perfect North Slopes. A friend of mine, Chris Bochenek, was pictured in the story with a photo of him skiing. I often witness his courageous acts, so to me this article was no surprise. After the article was printed, people were commenting about how amazing it was to see a man who has no use of his legs ski. I thought to myself," Why is that so surprising, I have seen him put his 2 kids into a van, by himself...(read more)