Category: Parenting

  • A Revolutionary July

    A Revolutionary July

    1 – Cherokee Indians attack the entire southern frontier, instigated by British agents (76) 1-4 – congress debates, revises Dec of Ind (76) 4 – Declaration of Independence adopted and sent to printer (76) 4 – Death of Jefferson and then Adams (1826) As the time neared for the passing of Thomas Jefferson, he was…

  • A Revolutionary June

    A Revolutionary June

    2 – Qaurtering Act of 1774 – intolerable act 8 – patriots fail to take 3 Rivers, Quebec (76) 9 – The Gaspee Affair (1772) One of the most colorful incidents in the history of Rhode Island was the Gaspee affair. With all the boldness that distinguished the Boston Tea Party, a group of indignant…

  • A Revolutionary May

    A Revolutionary May

    10 – The Tea Act (1773) “Since the Men from a Party, on fear of a Frown, Are kept by a Sugar-Plumb, quietly down. Supinely asleep, & depriv’d of their Sight Are strip’d of their Freedom, and rob’d of their Right. If the Sons (so degenerate) the Blessing despise, Let the Daughters of Liberty, nobly…

  • Depression is Real

    Depression is Real

    My daughter, who was attending college at the time, called me after a particularly trying day to inform me that according to her psychology professor, depression isn’t real. Apparently it can be controlled by changing our perspective of things. I immediately called him a loser under my breath before my daughter reminded me that everyone…

  • Debating Debate

    Debating Debate

    This is not a debate on anything political. It’s a debate on debate. Is it even possible to have a rational discussion about abortion, or immigration? Or anything for that matter? Each side, pulling further and further apart, throw words of bigotry and hate that seem to stop all conversation before it even starts. So…

  • It’s Not Just A Balloon – Building Trust With Your Children

    It’s Not Just A Balloon – Building Trust With Your Children

    Full disclosure: I’m not a parent, but I get asked for advice about parenting and children all the time. I admit that it’s a little weird, but I guess being a nanny who helps to raise other people’s children makes people trust me with theirs. Trust is a short word with an important definition, not…

  • The Science of Snuggling

    The Science of Snuggling

    I don’t remember the exact day my husband came home and changed our daily routine. We’d been married for over 15 years and had developed a good working relationship. That particular day he had been researching depression, my lifelong frenemy, and had come upon an article that had shouted out the effects that cuddling can…

  • Fear Not

    Fear Not

    Fear: (verb) To feel a painful apprehension of some impending evil; to be afraid of; to consider or expect with emotions of alarm or solicitude. Having several children with anxiety, talk of fear and trying new things can cause any number of emotions and reactions. But teaching our children and ourselves to overcome fear is…

  • What Boston Taught Me About Indy

    What Boston Taught Me About Indy

    The idea of moving again is one that fills my heart with trepidation. How many high schools will we have to attend before all five of our kids get through? But recently, my husband and I found ourselves on a flight to Boston, ready to check out about 15 different schools to see if there…

  • To My College Freshmen Self

    To My College Freshmen Self

    Right now, it may feel like life can’t get any more challenging. I know it seems scary, overwhelming, desperately lonely and incredibly expensive. Going grocery shopping by yourself for your own kitchen in your first apartment seems like a monumental task. I know, I’ve been there (and I still called my mom so she could…