In today’s culture of snowplow parenting where all obstacles are pushed out of the way of kids, I would like to talk about a radically different concept that is so old it is new. In fact, my paradigm demands the opposite. I believe in intentionally putting obstacles smack dab in the middle of the way [read more] …
parenting
An Appointment with Joy
I recently asked a young professional what he wished he would have done differently in college. Even though it has been a number of years since he graduated from one of the most selective and highest stress institutions in the country, he had a ready answer, “I wish I would have pursued a structured way [read more] …
Allow the Stumble
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] …
Is Depression Lurking?
The world is a tough place these days. Uncertainty, incivility, loss, injury, illness, and alienation can conspire together to take us or our loved ones to a dark place. We can get so overwhelmed that we often do not know what steps to take. If you begin to suspect that depression might be lurking in [read more] …
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] …