The Power of Presence
My mom always makes the greatest faces. Of course, as a kid, I’d die of embarrassment every time she’d squint up her eyes, but as a grown up, I realize she taught me something special. She’d pinch one eye with her pointer finger, while framing the world with her other hand, tilting her head this […]
Redefining Discipline
When I think of the word discipline I immediately get transported back in time. Images of my ancient First Grade teacher, Mrs. Witts, come to mind. Mrs. Witts with piles of ash blonde hair heaped on the top of her head like old straw, and horned rimmed glasses that were out-of-date, even way back […]
Do Your Actions Match Your Insides?
It was a day I’ll never forget. During my morning “zen time” I had been reading Nathaniel Brandon”s, The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem (I think it was around 2003, when I was living in Seattle – definitely before my kiddo was born, as there hasn’t been much “zen” since). Having just finished a chapter about the “Practice […]
How Are You Fencing Yourself In?
I don’t know about you, but I find that some of my favorite quotes come from movies that are made for the under-13-crowd. Since I’ve a grade-schooler at home, it’s nice to have an excuse to plop down with a bucket of popcorn and watch something that actually has a positive message in it. It’s […]
Do You Make Them Read Your Mind?
We can’t assume people know what we’re thinking. When people do a good job, we need to tell them.
Adios, Mr. Ego!
As my son’s fourth grade year comes to a close, I sit bewildered at the passage of time. Wasn’t it just yesterday that he was Davy Crockett? I smile, thinking back… “To be honest, mom” said my then-third-grader, from the back seat of the car, “I’m not crazy about the book we’re reading aloud. It’s Davy […]
What’s Your Mess to Own?
We don’t like to deal with the mess of our mistakes. We want to move on, but people remember.
Put Your Weapon Down!
How a question is received, stems from our individual experiences. And once emotional triggers start going off, it becomes a full-scale emotional battlefield in which there are no winners.