Last weekend in an art workshop, I had a front-row seat watching the activities of a bonified helicopter parent. On jet fuel. If you’ve read this newsletter for any time at all you know that my childrearing style is closer to boot camp than a luxury spa, but I am always fascinated to watch the [read more] …
Younger Years: K-8
Do They Have the Tools Needed?
After spending a couple of weeks in an intense fixer upper mode which required the use of multiple tools (belt sander, biscuit cutter, drill, palm sander, and cabinet clamps to name a few), I’ve been thinking about tools and how they impact our lives. There are physical tools that we hold in our hands and [read more] …
Embracing Summer Solitude
Part of the beauty of summer is the extra room to breathe. It is a time to enjoy picnics and watch the fireflies at night. It is a rare chance to read that book that has been calling your name, the opportunity to try that new art project, the mental capacity to think about the [read more] …
Living in the Right Season
I come from a long line of farmers and ranchers – men and women who were patient stewards of the land and the animals that lived there. While the workload is incredible and the stressors many, there is a certain measured stride in the life of any farmer because they are forced into the rhythm [read more] …
An Off-Road Education
Years ago, when we made the heady decision to bring our children home to educate, we didn’t foresee how difficult it would be. Had I stayed with the status quo, there would have been no parent/child conflict over academics or schedules, no sleepless nights questioning my ability to do this crazy thing, no defending [read more] …