Our mistakes do not define us

Other people’s reactions to our mistakes do not define us, even when they have power over us.

What usually goes with a big mouth?

A haiku for those of us who tend to get really opinionated (and loud about it):

Thoughtful Wishing

What do you want today?

A perfectly obedient toddler? Your boss to call in sick? A cool breeze on a hot day by the pool? A stiff drink? An actual chore done by your teen? Sex with your spouse?

Failure is not Fatal

One of the great gifts we can bestow on others is the gift of enthusiasm around failures. I know this sounds contrary to, well, every instinct we have. But given how much valuable information each of our failures can contain, it is no wonder that some of our greatest success stories actually came to celebrate failure.

Couples Need to Disagree

When it comes to such critical areas as parenting, finances, or how to deal with extended families, we are all tempted to believe a very damaging lie: If we are to be truly “one,” then we cannot be divided by disagreement.

Did you do your chores? (part II)

Yesterday we talked about the battle to get your kids to do their chores this summer. At least that’s how we introduced the topic. How we concluded the discussion was a bit different.

Is your child a wanderer?

I drove my daughter’s car yesterday, taking it to the auto parts store to get something fixed. Of course, I had to adjust the seat, the side mirrors, and for God’s sake, the radio. The biggest adjustment, however, was the rear view mirror. Like many female college students, my daughter has a large decorative concoction dangling from the mirror, like a chandelier of feathers, jewelry, and hair scrunchies. This was quite the distraction.

Authentic Self-Representation

If your integrity is telling you must confront somebody, how do you go about doing it?

Keep It Down

One of the startling truths about parental anxiety is that we often try to stamp out the very qualities and skills that will serve our children best in adulthood. We get so frustrated at our kids’ refusal to take the first ‘no’ for an answer, yet that’s the exact skill they’ll learn in Sales and Negotiation 101. We openly complain about our “strong-willed child,” but if we want our kids to say no to peer pressure, they had better have a strong-will.

It’s Hard to Be a Kid

It is so easy for adults, feeling overwhelmed by the responsibilities of adulthood, to forget how difficult it can be to be a child. Whether age 8 or 18, it is sometimes just plain hard to be a kid. School is either incredibly difficult or incredibly boring, and relationships are seemingly always full of melodrama or pain, and body image and hormones are, well, major issues. Such is the story of being immature, growing up, and in constant need of validation.