A couple of years ago I took issue with a post by another blogger about the unnecessity of being thanked for good deeds or small tokens, like a candy bar. I did not comment publically but was very dismayed. In essence, this author, who is an adult, said it didn’t matter if people said thank…
relationships
Gifting and Grace
It’s that time of year. The time of year asking your children, your spouse, your siblings, and your parents what they’d like to receive for Christmas. The answers get harder and harder to get. Thus, it gets harder to give. Sometimes, when you really pay attention and listen well, you might receive a flash of…
Aging Parents & Medical Limbo
Within 18 hours of my arrival “home” to visit my parents this week, we made three visits to the local emergency room with my Dad! I had planned a trip back to New York to visit my parents, who are both in their early 80’s, living in their own home. At the time the trip…
Stew vs. Chili
Yesterday, I made a batch of beef stew from scratch – no bottled sauces, or pre-fab taste enhancers – just good ole fashioned beef, carrots, potatoes, and onions. The beef was dusted in flour and the sauce was later thicked with some cornflower. It was on the stove, cooking in various stages from 1:30 –…
Slice of Life Tuesday: A Return to The Y.
Today is Slice of Life Tuesday! It is on this day each week writers can share with others via the TwoWritingTeachers.org blog who host Slice of Life Tuesdays. It is a supportive and welcoming environment filled with dedicated writers, authors, and teachers. Today, I have been “retired” for a month. But, in the last month,…
Giftedness: You’re too Sensitive.
Almost nine years ago (I cannot believe that much time has passed), I started a parent group for those families with children that had been identified as talented and gifted (TAG) in our school district. I did it out of great respect for our TAG teacher, who I asked if I could be of help…
We need the village. We do.
Monday evening I was at parent-teacher conferences. My youngest son is a senior in high school and is currently involved in a large solo art project in a nearby community. He is painting a mural on an outdoor wall at a business. It is large – nearly 40 feet long. But, it is October in…
A Step Back in Time
This morning I had coffee with a friend, a former teacher, and mentor to all three of my boys in the subject of mathematics. He appreciates the difference in all three of my sons, the way their abilities manifested, and their chosen paths. During our coffee clutches we attempt to solve the problems of the…
Poetry Friday: Weddings
White Wedding Dress. Table Top Ferns of Green. Comfortable shoes for dancing. Favorite Comfort Foods Served. The first dance – Classic music gathers friends and family, Glenn Miller’s In the Mood affects old and young, alike. Smiles all around. Reusable straws gift us all – present or not. Weddings reflect the bride and groom. Their love…
Leadership Series: How do you teach modesty?
When you think of a modest person, you do not equate them with the following actions: Blowing their own horn… Boasting… Bragging… Conceitedness… Merriam Webster defines modesty “as the quality of not being too proud or confident about yourself or your abilities.” Some very accomplished people are modest. Have you ever wondered how they arrive…










