by Susan Newman, Ph.D
Adapted from Little Things Long Remembered: Making Your Children Feel Special Every Day by Susan Newman, Ph.D.
Life swirls at a hectic pace in most families today. That reality places a high premium on finding family time. But, small parcels of time well spent shape long-lasting memories that are the backbone of family unity…and the glue that holds families together.
In our digital age, it is time to go back to basics. […]
by Michelle Eisler
I can’t count how many times I have cried for the child I have waited two years to adopt. This is the child I am afraid to meet because once I see and hold him, I will not be able to forget his place in my arms, or be able to ever let him go.
Seeing updated photos of him creates intense joy and grief as his changed face reminds me of the passing of time. Some days, the only way to keep my head above my emotions longing for him is to put him to the back of my mind. But the endless list of unknowns- wondering who he’ll be when he is in our family and what he might be doing right now takes over, and I break. […]
by Michal Klau-Stevens
One afternoon I took a walk at a beautiful lake surrounded by woods with a main paved path and smaller trails through the woods. I decided to take a wooded trail, but as I moved further from the main path, the trail became less clear. I was afraid of getting lost in the woods. When I looked around me, I realized that some of the trees had blue paint marks on them.
Every few feet stood a tree with another blue mark. By following the marks, I was able to follow the trail through the woods to the main path as it circled around the lake. When I got to the main path again, I wasn’t sure which direction to walk to get back to my car. Luckily, another walker was passing by who pointed me in the right direction. If I had gotten lost, the walk could have been a disaster, but because I had signs to guide me and people to help me when I needed help, it was a wonderful experience. But, it wasn’t only the signs and the fellow walker that made the difference. I used my skills and I wasn’t afraid to ask the fellow traveler for help. I advocated for myself, and I felt confident and positive after my walk.
Navigating your way towards motherhood is a lot like that walk. You are entering unfamiliar territory, and you will have to find your way through. Whether you pursue motherhood the “old fashioned” way, or through assisted reproductive technology, adoption, surrogacy, or some other method, the steps to making informed decisions […]
by Barbara DiGangi and Meredith Silversmith
If your child has challenging behavior, where do you turn? Typically, we look to professionals at school or in the community. You might start with an evaluation, enroll your child in a program, or even qualify for in-home services, depending upon where you live.
But, what happens when the professionals don’t help? When they think they know what to do, but are actually making things worse? What if what works for some kids doesn’t work for yours?
That’s what Barbara and I asked ourselves. Every day. For four years. […]
by Maggie Lamond Simone
When my kids were younger, Halloween brought out their desires. Whether the costumes represented a superhero, a butterfly, or a Star Wars character, they typically chose embodiments that might not be quite possible in real life . . . and which made them all the more desirable.
It’s actually no different than adults. We often choose costumes that are completely different than our real selves, yet which just might – maybe, possibly – reflect a hidden desire. When the husband wears a mask to hand out candy, he often gravitates to former presidents or the devil … which, yes, now concerns me. […]
by Aviva Luria
Years ago, I read an essay by a reform rabbi explaining why she didn’t allow her children to celebrate Halloween. It’s not a Jewish holiday, she said and, in addition, she abhorred the stereotypical images of women and girls as witches and bunnies and princesses.
I wanted to admire her integrity and determination in the face of societal pressure to celebrate a holiday she had issues with, but I couldn’t help but feel only sympathy for her kids. We go to the movies that day, she said in the article, and no one else is there. It’s wonderful.
Later, when I had a child of my own in daycare, another kid’s dad told me, “We don’t celebrate Halloween. We’re Christian.”
Wow. Halloween gets it from all sides, doesn’t it? […]
by Marc Parsont
It’s difficult for me admit, but I’ve been taking my kids chocolate from their plastic pumpkins. I wish I could say it’s only a few pieces, but it’s not. I’m like a Viking raider plundering and pillaging. At least I was until my wife caught me.
Then both she and the nanny hid the kids candy. I found it. They caught me again and this time they threw the candy away, but not before I squirreled away a piece or two for a rainy day. I tell you this as a precursor and cautionary tale about my other favorite holiday, Thanksgiving. […]
by Nicholas D'Ambra
They are a nuisance. They are in my sock drawer, the floor of my car, everywhere in my desk, in the little crack of the door jam where the floor and the threshold don’t quite meet, EVERYWHERE!
Inevitably, when I reach for meter money in the car I always end up with handfuls of them, most often concealing a much needed dime in the palm of my hand. They are…Ugh! PENNIES!!! […]
by Jo-Ann Rogan
Dearest Ryan,
I have been writing you letters on your birthday since you were four years old. Wish I thought to do this when you were younger. This year was about you blossoming.
You have grown so much this year. In early June you were on the tall side but had a little kid look to you with a roundness. Suddenly in July you were what seems like four inches taller, broad shouldered, and had a decidedly young-man-look. Your face is changing and you are wearing men’s sized clothing and shoes. You have become a strong young man. You often volunteer to carry heavy things for me.
You started this summer as a little boy. In July, your rapid growth had your brain chemistry thrown off and your behavior was hard to manage and you were just hard to reach. August brought a new found calm. When your Dad was away working on his big project you stepped in to be my right hand man. Often when Aaron was melting down you were the one to take the higher road in your arguments. I was so thankful for your calm head. I enjoyed the time we had together in August and I adored our “summer bucket list,” which was a list of things we wanted to do this summer. Last week, we crossed everything off the list with the time we spent at the beach. […]
by Melanie Elliott
Our first Halloween with The Littlest E was easy breezy. He was 15 months old and didn’t really know or care about pumpkins, costumes, going trick-or-treating, or eating candy. We stayed home that year and answered the door whenever the bell rang.
For the past few years some friends of ours whose son is The Littlest E’s age, have held a Halloween potluck. They live in a great kid-friendly neighborhood with lots of children going door-to-door. We starting going to their house when The Littlest E was a little over 2 years old. That first year attending their party, we lasted 10 minutes trick-or-treating. Our little guy was too scared of adults in costume and he didn’t even like being in his own costume. It was all a bit too much for him. […]