Reflections
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When You Know Better, Do Better ~ Maya Angelou
“Friends… they cherish one another’s hopes. They are kind to one another’s dreams.” ~ Henry David Thoreau The holiday season is upon us! I don’t know about you, but the holidays have snuck up on me and we still need to get the tree (and decorate it) and buy some presents! We’ve really have cut back over the years on gift giving and focus more on spending time with friends and family. Of course the kids will get presents but what really leaves a lasting impression is the time you spend with those you care about. It got me thinking about the people in my life who have…
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How Can I Honor the Man with No Regrets?
August 24. Today is my father’s birthday. I was with him on his birthday last year, and while driving the 500 miles back home, I knew in my heart that it was the last time I was going to see him alive. He passed away that September. Only my dad, John Dieball, could have lived 79 years in a body that had such serious heart issues. A heart attack at 29, his doctors and surgeons said it was a miracle he remained so vibrant for another 50 years. He had a brilliant and curious mind. And he lived a passionate and purposeful life. Have you read Bronnie Ware’s “Regrets of…
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How a Hug Changed My Son’s Life Forever
Small acts can have a big impact. We’ve all heard this in inspirational speeches. We’ve seen memes scroll by in our newsfeed. But I’ve personally witnessed the impact and ripple effect caused by a simple act by my son’s teachers almost 20 years ago. It all started with a hug. Like so many on the autism spectrum, my son’s first experiences at school were difficult. The kids at school either ignored him or bullied him. The teachers at this first school just didn’t work well with students who learned differently. Though he wasn’t diagnosed at the time, we could see that he was struggling to keep up with his peers,…
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In Awe of Molly: Parenting a Creative Child
I am in sheer and utter awe of my daughter, Molly. How did one shy, sweet girl turn into such a creative force and passionate young woman? A woman I admire because she’s living “all-in” with unstoppable determination and moxie. And she’s doing it through the quiet power of an introvert. I guess it should come as no surprise because growing up she always remained true to who she was, even when there was pressure from other girls to conform…even when she was so lonely from being left out or unheard. From a very young age, Molly has had a depth of character beyond her years. She has the ability…
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Connecting with Loved Ones
I really like when my job pushes me to think about things – about life, relationships, and ourselves. This month as part of the Stonyfield YoGetters group I was asked to talk with my daughter about when she feels most loved by myself and my husband. The question is not necessarily a tough one to ask but maybe the answers might be hard to hear in the sense of finding out whether I am doing enough of what makes her feel most loved. What do you think your kids would say if you asked them: “So when do you feel loved? What can mommy and daddy do to help you feel loved?”…
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Exploring the Outdoors with Your Kids
Raising Happy and Healthy Kids: What is the best way to keep our kids happy and healthy? Take them outside. Now do not get me wrong, this is not going to be some post about how our kids should never play video games (my daughter loves Minecraft) but we should not live in a society where it is considered a punishment for your kid if you take away the electronic devices and make them go outside to play. Keep it Simple: A lot of times as parents we overthink things. What kind of craft should we do? What kind of game should we play? I need to set up…
