Teaching kids that failure = success (with help from the Olympics)

olympic rings copy

The girls are 14-, 12-, and 11-years old.  By virtue of luck, good genes, and effort, there has been little ‘falling down’ in which they’ve needed to get up and brush themselves off.  This is not a result of helicopter parenting either, though I’ve certainly been known to drop off a forgotten lunch and occasional homework assignment to school because I can.  The girls know ‘it should never happen again’ and so it rarely does. As wise participants of life, we know that all the good stuff … [Read more...]

Friday’s five things: the weather, the Bieb, never say ‘never’, cell phone etiquette, and solving problems

frogs falling from the sky

1.  “Global warming is scientific fact.” “No, it’s not.” “Then how do you explain the frogs falling from the sky?” “That’s simply God’s way of punishing us for homosexuality.” I’m not sure that’s exactly how the conversation goes, but it’s often nonsensical.  In today’s New York Times, Coral Davenport covers how the effects of climate change are affecting the economy worldwide, making it more costly for Coco-Cola and Nike to churn out their wares.  That’s good news!  Why?  Because if … [Read more...]

Moving into 2014. Books make us better.

books

I’ve often told my daughters, and the kids I coach, that nauseous feelings of anticipation are often the worst they’ll feel. When Miss T suddenly complains of aches before soccer practice, I tell her that once she’s there, she’ll be fine. And she ALWAYS is. Goldie is apprehensive about school on Monday mornings but at 3pm when I pick her up, she’s generally had a great day. When we realize, in the thick of the thing about which we were so nervous, that our world will not end, that we will not … [Read more...]

Lovely December: sobriety, family, Christmas

My greatest gifts.

To me, December is profound. On the tenth of this month back in 1996, we found out my father was riddled with cancer; he was gone ten weeks later. Last year, on the 9th, our mom died. But in December 1991, before either of my parents passed away, I stopped drinking…and goodness came after, even in grief. Not the least of my blessings was the husband, who understood me early on and asked me to marry him anyway. What followed were three daughters, who greatly reduced my egocentric tendencies … [Read more...]

Sunday’s Six Things: Rankin/Bass, Snowden, holiday weight gain, etc.

rudolf copy

1.  Ever since my sister-in-law went home after our Thanksgiving feast and left behind the delicious half-eaten cakes and pies she'd baked, I've been struggling to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Surely an attitude adjustment was in order.  My plan?  To hell with health during the holidays, let's just watch the calorie count.  For instance, I skipped the egg and wheat toast for breakfast and just had the pumpkin pie I was going to eat afterwards anyway (plenty of fiber in pumpkin).  Why have a … [Read more...]

Monday motherhood: a year later

mom at easter

Yup, a year.  My mom died last December 9th and so it feels like a day of reflection.  Too bad we don’t have anything formal like the Jews: Yahrzeit is a memorial anniversary of death. On this day there should be no rejoicing, no eating of meat or drinking alcohol. There is a custom of kindling a yahrzeit candle at dark on the evening before the anniversary of death. The flame and wick symbolize the soul and body of the deceased. One also recites the Mourner's Kaddish on this day. Or the … [Read more...]