Every Monday, I’ll post about discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life. — As a teacher educator and someone who also helps parents raise their children well, I’ve been teaching frequently about how digital technology effects people’s beliefs and behaviors. Especially many people under the age of 30 have been drastically influenced because they’ve never known life without technology. Because of the plethora of websites, blogs, online videos, Facebook posts, podcasts, print resources, and the ease of finding information with search engines, we’re inundated with knowledge. I’m not surprised when young people don’t know what to do with it all. They’re young and haven’t been … [Read more...]
Do You Extend Hope to Others?
May 6, 2013 by · Leave a Comment
Every Monday, I’ll post about discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life. — Do you extend hope to others? If you have some, I hope you do. We shouldn’t keep it to ourselves. Does it have to be a big deal? A time consuming conversation? The giving away of something you value? No. Might it be? Yes, and it would be worth it. Can it be a smile shared as you walk past a coworkers? Yes. a genuine question, asking someone how she is, and showing with body language, eye contact, and facial expression, that you do want and care about a real answer? Yes. an anonymous gift of money to someone who needs it? Yes. asking someone for practical help so a need you have is met, but more importantly … [Read more...]
Grieving the Boston Bombings – Practical Insights to Help Process
April 15, 2013 by · 1 Comment
In light of the tragic bombings in Boston today and the loss of life and the number of injured, I thought I’d repost this blog (with some slight edits) from about a year ago. --- Grief is on my mind and it’s probably on yours. And, it’s in our hearts. Fear and confusion may be on your mind and you may notice it in your children, depending on how aware they are of what happened. Would it surprise you to know that understanding how we are smart can help us process grief, fear, and confusion well? It’s true. And, it’s important because grief isn’t well understood. Too often, people can be made to feel they’re not grieving right. Really? Disappointing. If your children have definite intelligence strengths, you’ll want … [Read more...]
Letting Go to Steward Better
April 15, 2013 by · Leave a Comment
Every Monday, I’ll post about discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life. — Joey came to my home to cut off the dead limb from a tree in my front yard. I noticed it dying this winter as bark occasionally fell off. I wanted the limb cut off mostly so it wouldn’t break off in one of our frequent wind and thunderstorms. Of course, it was a bit ugly, too, as compared to the rest of the tree. I was concerned a disease might have caused the limb to die. I was relieved to learn that wasn’t the case. (Apparently when fruitless mulberry trees reach a certain age, limbs often begin to die.) Joey told me cutting the limb off was wise because the tree was still expending energy to that limb. By getting … [Read more...]
Just Watch and Listen
February 25, 2013 by · 1 Comment
Every Monday, I’ll post about discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life. — On the way to the grocery store, a friend’s son asked if they could rent a movie from the Red Box he knew was outside the store. After thinking about their schedule, she decided it was okay. After parking the car, my friend and her son waited behind a girl she estimated to be 14 or 15. When this girl realized the Red Box did not have the movie she wanted to rent, she loudly proclaimed, “I hate my life!!!” and stormed off to a parked car. My friend heard her complain bitterly to the driver, actually trying to place blame on her for choosing such a “stupid Red Box.” Have you ever wondered how to determine … [Read more...]
Are We Safe To Talk With?
February 11, 2013 by · Leave a Comment
Every Monday, I’ll post about discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life. — Are we safe to talk with ? Do our children know we are? Are we available to them when they have questions and concerns? Do we even know what concerns them? Sometimes children tell me they don’t want to keep living when the days seem so dark. That’s how one girl described it to me once. “There used to be a lot of light. Now it’s just dark.” Children absorb more from what’s going on around them than we might know. What do they overhear us talking about? What do they hear on the morning television shows as we have them on in the background? What headlines do they read when they’re on the Internet? Children … [Read more...]
Thought Provoking Discussion Starters #50: A Foundational Question Concerning Community
January 25, 2013 by · Leave a Comment
Every Friday, I’ll post thought provoking discussion starters. — Shannon Wolf published a piece on the blog for the Association of Christian Counselors about her take on a possible foundational cause of the tragedy that took place in Newtown, CT. She makes a good case for the shift from community to isolation as being a cause. These sentences really caught my attention: Today, we are faced with the consequences of the breakdown of the community. Community is now a location and not an activity. Do you agree with her? Has community ever been an activity for you? Is it now? What difference does it make? Do you, too, see the lack of community as related to increased violence? I’d love to hear your thoughts. … [Read more...]
Today’s Tragedy In Connecticut Compels Intentional Interaction with Our Children … Now
December 14, 2012 by · 1 Comment
The Newtown Connecticut shooting is a tragedy. Absolutely. As of this writing, I believe 18 children and 8 adults were killed. We can’t control what happens to our children. You’ve known that. Today’s trauma just drives that home. Many times trying to control our children backfires. Too many demands and they rebel. Too many boundaries and they won’t know how to be free. They may not know they can be free. They may have no confidence. They’ll actually be more insecure. It’s the very opposite of what you want for them. We can control how we behave toward our children. And, other children, too. Know them. Respect them. Interact with them. Comfort them. Like them. Love them. Honor them. Affirm them. Spend time with them. … [Read more...]
You’re Special
July 16, 2012 by · 1 Comment
Every Monday, I’ll post about discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life. — What we believe about ourselves and others is important. Beliefs influence identity and identity controls behavior. Who we think we are is who we will be. I want children to know they are special. To believe it. To not doubt it. When they believe positive things about themselves, it’s more likely they’ll behave positively. They’ll take care of themselves, take life seriously, and invest themselves in life. For years, we’ve sold a poster that contains 20 statements all of us at Celebrate Kids wish every child believed. Many parents and teachers buy these to encourage children and students. A few days ago, at a … [Read more...]
How Do We Grieve? Using Multiple Intelligences to Grieve Well and Completely
May 2, 2012 by · 1 Comment
Every Wednesday, I’ll post about multiple intelligences so we can better understand children and why they do what they do. — My book about multiple intelligences is titled How Am I Smart? A Parent’s Guide to Multiple Intelligences, but many other titles would have worked. That’s because our intelligences are relevant to so many areas of life. As you know, if you read last week’s blog posts (here and here), grief has been on my mind lately. Would it surprise you to know that understanding how we are smart can help us grieve well? It’s true. And, it’s important because grief isn’t well understood. Too often, people can be made to feel they’re not grieving right. Really? Disappointing. How Do We Grieve? Using … [Read more...]
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