Parenting — and Life — Lessons while driving 15 MPH in a 25 MPH zone
I was driving my sophomore in high school son to early bird Wellness 2 this morning and was going about 15 miles per hour in the 25 mile per hour zone of our street. We passed a man walking along the street -- we have no sidewalks in our neighborhood -- and I waved at...
Here’s what 23 years of Back-To-School has taught me- Today Show Parents Post
In my 23 years of having back-to-school season with kids, I’ve learned to keep these five things in mind.
I sobbed dropping my twins off at college
I got all teary-eyed after dropping off my twins at college yesterday. Okay, sobbed, uncontrollably. They had to get there two weeks early to start Resident Assistant (R.A.) training before actual classes begin, so it felt especially hard as summer was still underway....
As our kids get older, continue to make family getaways a priority
I was realizing that we weren’t planning as much in the summers as a family since our five kids are in varied locations and stages of life this summer, and then July hit and I panicked: Summer is half over. It made me stop to recognize that as kids get older and get...
The last time I saw my brother Thomas
The last time I saw my older brother Thomas was when he was in his casket. That was 1983. I was 18 and he was 20. He had a blue and red button down plaid shirt on that was tucked into his jeans; his face was embalmed and he looked so serene, so peaceful, so innocent....
When you’re here, you’re family
One of my twin sons Mick is working as a busser at a steakhouse restaurant in Waikiki this summer; he's staying with my daughter’s family who lives in Hawaii. On his first day of what was going to be an 8-hour work day, he packed a PBJ dinner. When he came home I...
Just show up
I was in the wedding of my dear college friend Meri 25 years ago, and when Meri and her husband Ray started their family, Meri’s mom Mona would stay at Meri’s house to help her.Mona would cook the meals, wash and dry and fold laundry, hold Meri’s new baby, just be...
Find your thing
My twins and youngest son and I attended my friend Kristi’s daughter’s last lacrosse game of her college career at George Fox University, where my twins are freshmen. I love looking for opportunities to see my boys on campus and it was fun to be able to combine it...
Tell them that you miss them
This past Monday, was my first day back in a month at West Linn High School where I regularly serve as a substitute teacher; for some subs, that may not be a huge deal, but I exclusively sub at West Linn; typically, I am at the school three to four days a week,...
3 Ways to find joy when you’re overwhelmed in busy family life
I grew up in a German household where working hard without complaining was a huge value we learned. When I complained about having to do a task, my mom used to say to me, “Kopf Hoch,” which is basically German for “Keep your head up.” What that meant to...
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