I had gone upstairs when the rumblings of ‘the incident’ began. I heard a lot of screaming and door slamming. I quickly reviewed the morning in my head. I had implemented all my coping strategies to have a good morning. I had greeted both my boys warmly. I had engaged them both in conversation over...

I recently had a discussion with another mom about how hectic mornings can be trying to get everyone successfully out the door.  I told her that on some level, I know that it is my attitude and energy that sets the tone for the day.  It is especially hard to ‘rise above’ and be calm,...

If you look at parenting in its entirety, it can quickly overwhelm you.  During my boys’ lengthy ‘terrible twos’ that started at 15 months and lasted until kindergarten, I never would have believed it would get easier.  When I started each day with them, I would mentally prepare for the seemingly endless battles that lay...

Both of my boys on occasion stretch the truth.  Sometimes they even flat-out lie.  While I find it upsetting, I try to keep it in perspective.  Their lying mostly has to do with self-preservation or not wanting to disappoint me or their Dad.  In the grand scheme they are being human and it’s better to...

In our early family life we lived in Wisconsin.  This basically meant seven solid months of winter-like weather as anyone living in the northern states can attest to.  I came to realize that our social life on the weekends during these frosty days would mainly consist of taking the boys out to dinner.  Being a...