Writ large on the walls of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Pablo Neruda’s words strike a chord in my soul: “I spin on the circle of wave upon wave of the sea.” My life has felt like constant spinning, waves of joy and laughter, wash of chaos and drama, waves of peaceful beauty. My parents’ lives … Continue reading Rituals: Cation House
Tag: parenting teens
Meatless Monday – Veggie Chili
A dear friend offered to host the annual family-friendly Halloween/Trick-or-Treating party (meaning, as much fun for adults as kids, including Kitchen Dance Party long after we all should have been asleep) . This Halloween dealt us a new parenting milestone - Teen definitely had his own plans and Tween, willing to attend party and eat food, felt … Continue reading Meatless Monday – Veggie Chili
Help. Thanks. Wow.
Anne Lamott, or as others call her, St. Anne, claims that the Essential Prayers sound this simple: Help. Thanks. Wow. I have prayed many, many words over many, many years, but I’m not sure I could come up with a prayer, petition, or praise that wouldn’t fit those three categories: help, thanks, wow. Other than … Continue reading Help. Thanks. Wow.
The Kids are Okay
We have completed Week 2 of the school year and I can happily report that we are all doing OK! At least mostly. I think. We've only had... ...one lost backpack, ...one slept-through alarm clock, ...one forgotten bike lock combination, ...one forgotten lunch box, ...one "oops, I forgot to turn it in" homework assignment, ...a couple "oops, … Continue reading The Kids are Okay
The #Day Challenge
I've picked up an odd habit this year: I have said Yes! to an assortment of (mostly) online challenges, all for a set number of days: The 30 Day Power Purge Soulful Spring Cleaning: A 30-Day Life Reboot Lenten disciplines, an annual 40 day adventure The Body Love Experiment 21 Day Challenge 40 Days of Prayer … Continue reading The #Day Challenge
Adventures in Parenting: We Have a Teen Driver
Once again I have allowed a major parenting event to sneak up on me. Teen has had his driver's permit for the requisite six months and actively practiced driving for the last four months. The license exam was scheduled about two months in advance, and we anticipated that he would pass. So why did it not … Continue reading Adventures in Parenting: We Have a Teen Driver
Talking with Boys in Cars
Long before Guy and I had kids of our own, let alone teenagers, we ran a youth group filled with young people we loved. One of the things we quickly learned: girls like to talk face-to-face while boys talk more openly when engaged in activity. Of course that's a generality, but we've seen it play out so many times … Continue reading Talking with Boys in Cars
Mommy Guilt
Sometimes the person we need to forgive, the one most in need of the gift of grace, is ourselves. We need to release our own guilt. A few years ago I had the opportunity to speak to moms of preschoolers on social/emotional development. As I reflected on my children during the preschool years, the topic … Continue reading Mommy Guilt
Thankful Thursday = Happiness!
I asked myself this morning whether I would write a Thankful Thursday post. Answer? Not sure. Then I went to my women's group at church and one of the topics was "Happy people are grateful." So here we go. *I am grateful that I am developing new rhythms and taking time to write regularly. It's … Continue reading Thankful Thursday = Happiness!
Cell Phone Rules
Tween took a sharp turn onto the Adolescent Highway a few weeks ago. He figured out how to text. Silly parents, we thought we had years of innocent childhood left to go with this one before he hit Cell Phone Mania. We fought long and hard against the cultural mandate for kids to have cell phones. … Continue reading Cell Phone Rules