So Lexi discovered “Leave It to Beaver” on Netflix. There was something refreshing about the three of us finishing our chores as quickly as possible to sit around the television to watch a black and white show. I was most excited about experiencing it through Lexi’s eyes.

“Stop bullying my kid!” are words I never thought I would say. Especially since three (out of four) of my children are only elementary school age. But I have. And with saying those words, I experienced a great sense of worry for my children’s safety.

You know that feeling you get when you start running in the cold, and for the first several minutes, you’re wondering what possessed you to get out of your warm, comfortable bed to face the excruciatingly cold winds that always seem to be blowing in your direction as you run? Or that weird feeling you get when you notice out of your peripheral vision that your eyelashes are frozen in place and that there’s an icicle starting to form? Or that sweet, sweet moment when you find your stride and the rest dissipates into a surge of excitement, joy and even peace?

Remember when we were in school and teachers would call roll and we’d answer with the ubiquitous, “Here?” Sometimes I was present in body but my mind was in places much more romantic and adventurous like Thornfield Hall from Jane Eyre, Green Gables with Anne Shirley or streets of London with Oliver Twist.

Tip of the Week - Protect Childhood

Safety for all starts here

What it is:  To shield from damage the freedom to be a child.  For the purposes of this week’s tip, let’s consider childhood as ages 2 to 12.

Why it’s important:  Childhood is a safe haven of time during which children are supported as they experiment with the world. 

Experimentation is the pathway to understanding who they are, what they’re good at, and what makes them happy. 

I'm setting my sights a little lower this Christmas.

 

Let me explain.

There was an extended period of time in my life where I was a CAVE dweller.  We all know people that are.  CAVE is an acronym for Citizens Against Virtually Everything.  CAVE dwellers are the people that look at life as a glass that is half full and complain about it.  They complain loudly about the injustices that life has heaped upon their shoulders and have no problems letting you know about it.

That use to be me!

Do you set your eyes on a goal and keep your focus and energy on attaining it?  Your goal may be a promotion, saving for European vacation or getting Christmas presents bought in record time.

Today I did it. I went to Control Panel and clicked "Accessibility Options."  Some of you will know exactly what that means. For the uninitiated (or Mac users) "Accessibility Options" is what you click if you want to change your font settings; in other words, it's what you click to make the default font size larger because you're getting old and losing near-sightedness (as if being far-sighted and having glasses since 4th grade wasn't enough!). Ouch! 

As a mom, my life is perpetual motion. A typical day goes something like this:   Get up