There is a new person in the world! My daughter had a baby two weeks ago. Soft and warm, sweet and pure, a new little boy was born. Everything that he does is miraculous, from opening his eyes to sucking and pooping, and the adults who love him marvel at each accomplishment. He has a… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Family
When Do You Need Glasses?
My son built a fort for my eight-year-old granddaughter, six-year-old grandson and me to watch a movie. It was a construction of pillows, chairs and cozy blankets in the middle of their living room floor. He made popcorn and flavored it with corn chex and white chocolate, then he went into the basement to use… Read more »
How Do You Tap Into Your Soul?
It was Christmas eve in Michigan and I was visiting my son and his family. They told me that there was something special that they wanted us all to do on that night…something that happens every night in December in that town. We got bundled up (the kids in woolen hats and snow pants) and… Read more »
Raising Responsible Children
Over Thanksgiving, I was fortunate to be with extended family for a three-day celebration. Among the events of the visit there were several faux pas such as a guest’s dog pooping on the floor as soon as they arrived and the host dropping the turkeys and the marinade all over the kitchen counter the day… Read more »
Why Is Thanksgiving Stressful?
It’s all about family. For those who don’t have family, it could feel lonely or isolating. And for those getting together with family, it often involves travel during crowded times…packing, rushing to airports, dealing with delayed flights or crowded roads and foods that might not agree with you. But, more importantly, why is being with… Read more »
The Old Farmhouse
When in Bhutan I visited a common farmhouse. The furnishings were meager, with a thin mattress on the floor serving as a bed and a primitive cooking setup. I walked from room to room quietly taking in the kind of life that these people must have, the rooms feeling cold and bare to me. Then… Read more »
Saving Cookies
My son and I picked up his four-year-old son and a friend from school. He got into the car with stories about his day and a zip lock bag with three cookies. “Did you make cookies today?” My son asked. “Yes,” his child answered as he opened the bag and gave one to his friend…. Read more »
Parenting
Being a mother has been the most rewarding and challenging role in my life. There was no training or preparation for it, and little discussion about the importance of the job. As a young mother, I was inexperienced at being selfless and certainly didn’t have a clue about the weighty ramifications of my decisions. They… Read more »
The Special Castle
It was a cold day in December when my son and daughter-in-law were visiting. I told them to take a few hours to themselves and I would watch the kids – ages 5 and 3. We baked cookies, watched a show on tv, did an art project but I was running out of activities and… Read more »
Chatting Raised to Another Level
My mother can talk with anyone. I left her sitting on a bench at a flower show while I got her coat and when I returned she had made a friend. She talks to people on airplanes and asks people in upscale restaurants why they ordered what they did, disarming any notion of haughtiness or… Read more »