My grandparents raised their family in a tiny, brick bungalow on the west side of Milwaukee. The size of the house was inversely proportionate to the size of their family, something that by today’s standards seems to not only defy the laws of comfort, but of logic as well. Yet,…
“People who don’t stay down after they fall or are tripped are often trouble makers. Hard to control. Which is the best kind of dangerous possible.” — Brene Brown, “Rising Strong” He fell at least five times. Probably more. I lost count. Each time he fell, I caught my…
I’m not sure exactly when it happened, but it happened. Was it sometime this summer? Or did it happen before then, maybe last fall? Did it happen in a sudden flash, like the Big Bang, marked by some kind of milestone that I missed along the way? Or was it…
Don’t worry; this isn’t going to be one of those letters. You know the kind. Some well-intentioned and wise adult writes with a just-trying-to-be-helpful shrug about how you should stop doing this or change that. Usually it has something to do with your clothing choices or selfie-taking habits or flirting…
Note: This post was in response to a question posed by the TODAY Parenting Team, in which they asked members to share their summer stories, advice and survival secrets. This post can be seen on the TODAY Parenting site here. ************ In summers past, I have alternated between counting down…
The last thing I need is another holiday with its overinflated expectations and endless chores. So when Jackson suggested a new family holiday – that would be celebrated monthly – I was a bit skeptical and apprehensive. Like most holidays, Giving Day (as our new holiday is called) has not…