(This is a reprint of an article I wrote years ago. I thought it was appropriate, since we are approaching Mother's Day 2017. Lilacs and peonies were my mother's two favorite flowers. ... Read More
Parenting & Adoption
Children & Loss
When a child experiences the loss of someone close, such as a parent, or has been separated from parents, she may go in and out of periods of rage or depression. Depression in a child may or ... Read More
Know Anyone Who Uses the Phrase “Gotcha Day” With Their Adopted Kids?
Do you know anyone who uses the phrase "Gotcha Day" with their adopted kids? I think if you do, this article is one you should read. I will explain why I am not fond of this term. It's been ... Read More
Kids and Holidays After Death of Parent
If you have recently lost a spouse and have kids at home, you may wonder how you will ever get through the upcoming holiday season. At times you ... Read More
Whose Rights Matter More in Adoption?
Are you one of those people who think of adoption as a really happy, wonderful event? You are not wrong, but you're also not exactly right either. It is a wonderful, exciting, exhilarating ... Read More
A Look at Leave-Takings
Leave-takings are hard. They are harder for some than for others. If you are someone who has had a lot of loss in your life, you may actually dread separations and goodbyes. You may avoid ... Read More
Do You Engage in Brinkmanship? Well Cut It Out, Please!
Here in the U.S. most of us are sick of the kind of brinkmanship that has been in the news and that held our government and many of our citizens hostage. If you're not sure what this word means, it's ... Read More
A Parent Ponders, A Daughter Remembers
At what age do you stop blaming others for your own choices and behavior? At what age do you start recognizing the intangible, but important gifts you received from your elders? Sure, sometimes those ... Read More
Coach Iris Comments on Saturday Morning Cartoons and Also Life With Kids Nowadays
Coach Iris says: (Sorry I could not get this to form new paragraphs, regardless of what I tried, but hope you will read it.) This was interesting to me. I remember Saturday mornings spent with ... Read More
Parenting Is A Bit Like A Taffy Pull
Have you ever been to an old-fashioned taffy pull? Probably not, since people don't do that much nowadays but my family was once invited to one years ago. It was a lot of fun, but lately when I ... Read More