Parenting
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Reflections: Being Content With Our Choices
One of the reasons we have a section on dandelion moms called Reflections is for women to share in their observations about the choices they made and offer some insight to women who are in the beginning, middle or even later stages of motherhood. One of my favorite illustrations from Charles Schulz, the creator of the Peanuts, is the one where Charlie Brown is sitting by the pond with Snoopy and says “In the Book of Life, the answers aren’t in the back.” How true is that observation! As women we need to trust our gut instincts and do what works for ourselves and our families. This might mean working at home, not working, or working outside the home. …
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The Beauty Of Being A Grandparent
A moment that I will never forget is when my three-year-old grandson, Jackson, and I were having lunch at a Mexican restaurant. The server asked me, “What would the baby like to eat?” I told her his food order, and Jackson spoke up. He looked her in the eyes and informed her, “I’m not a baby. I’m a GRANDSON!” Many ask or wonder… “What is this word GRAND all about?” As I look in the Mean Mirror of Age and see the creeping of crow’s feet and the sagging of once firm skin, I realize that being a grandmother is about regrets, second chances, and perfect patience. Regrets? …
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Letting Your Soul Show
Recently I received an email from a conscientious woman whom I know to be devoted to warming the world in her own special ways. She was venting frustration over this year’s onslaught of holiday greeting cards that felt, well, obligatory to her. To put it in her words “…it concerns me a bit that people are so busy, and/or don’t take the time to write a little personal note.” This made me smile with empathy. We are trained to live our lives a very specific way. I mean that word–trained. I speak to the homes we are raised in, the social circles that support us, the communities and societies that extend out from each…
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Snowflakes and Christmas Carols (Why We Need Christmas This Year).
Under normal circumstances, this is an interesting time of year. The idyllic mixes with reality and creates for each of us an individual holiday picture. Over the course of the past twelve months, we have lived through triumphs and hardships, trials and tribulations, all personal and all meaningful. These events set the tone for each of our respective Christmas seasons. And we, as humans, emotionally attach ourselves to material possessions to set the perfect stage for Santa. The perfect tree; the perfect gift; the perfect dinner party. Get the carols on. Send the cards out. Go through the motions, the hustle and bustle and feel good. Send the…
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Creating Family Traditions at Christmas
There are few holidays that hold the place of Christmas for family traditions. Through the years we create and maintain traditions that have a special place in our memories. Some are sacred and never change, while others are replaced with a new tradition that fits the family dynamics at the time. When our son was growing up, the day after Thanksgiving we gathered with extended family and turkey leftovers and drove to Santa’s Acres to cut down the perfect tree. When our son went off to college, we purchased our first pre-lit tree. I used my creative side to decorate it in elegant gold and white ornaments, garlands, flowers…
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How To Talk to Our Children About a Tragedy
Our country faced one of the saddest days in our history yesterday with the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. It is beyond comprehension that a person could do such a thing to little children. Our children are faced with hearing about this frightening experience as they might hear bits and pieces about it on the news or hear about it at school. The principal at my daughter’s elementary school sent out a letter last night and provided some resources on how best to talk to your children about this tragedy if you find it appropriate. I am providing this resource from The National Association of School Psychologists verbatim so you can…