Animal therapy is a wondrous thing. Horse programs that assist kids and adults with physical and learning disabilities. Cats that help out in
nursing homes. Dogs that are trained to assist with an enormous amount of conditions, from blindness and deafness to Alzheimer’s Disease and peanut allergies—even those that dramatically change the
lives of hard-core criminals. I think another group that can be blessed by animal therapy is moms of pre-teens and …
Month: April 2010
Hour Showers No More: Helping Kids Break the Habit
Why are teens (and pre-teens) notorious for taking long showers? Is it because when they were
younger, they used to spend so much time with “bathtub crayons”, “foam soap” and “waterproof musical instruments”, that they’re simply used to “staying in”? Just when I thought my kids were the only ones who think water is limitless and free, I’ve discovered there are many more out there just like them.
One Surprise After Another
Allison, our teenager, a few days ago: “Mom, why are you always complaining about
something?”
Me: “It’s not that I’m always complaining, it’s that as a parent, there are problems and issues
constantly thrown my way, a lot of stuff I’ve never dealt with before, and I’m constantly having to make decisions and take a side— and you and Emmie don’t always agree with my opinion.”
Time to Clock Out and Chill Out
Yesterday when she got home from school, Allison said she needed either Andy or I to help her memorize a duet
scene she was scheduled to perform in theatre class today. She needed one of us to act out one part while she acted out her part. I was happy she would even consider me to do this since Andy
usually helps out with “homework” after dinner while I work on miscellaneous chores, like going through mail or putting sheets in the dryer– …
Building a Better Easter
In true Uncool Mom fashion, of me always trying to re-engineer things and make them better, this year I once
again set my sights on Easter. I’ve always thought that Easter, the foundational holiday of Christianity, should be a much bigger deal than it is, and have always wondered why Christians don’t
make as much fuss over it as Christmas. I mean, at least in my family, people don’t bend over backwards at Easter to try to be together by plane, …