There are so many celebrations and weird ‘holidays’ in May, I was having trouble deciding which one to write about. When I came across Dennis Spielman’s Uncovering Oklahoma’s 2014 Date Idea Book, I knew that International Tuba Day (first Friday in May), Lumpy Rug Day (May 3) and No Socks Day (May 8) weren’t going...
Listening to children about how they feel as their parents go through divorce – and afterward – is very important. We need to hear them. Not only their words, but read their demeanor. And we have to remember how well they can hear us. How they can read between the lines to what’s really being...
I’ve talked to many children whose parents are going through divorce. I often serve as a guardian ad litem for children – a cross between an attorney for the children and an arm of the court charged with the task of investigating a divorce matter in order to make recommendations to the judge regarding custody...
Hopefully The Power of a Compliment was a helpful reminder to celebrate your spouse with words of praise. Telling them directly is one great way to do it. But it’s not the only way. Want something a little more creative? Try one (or more!) of the five options below! 1. Answer the question. When Facebook...
Recently I was one of two speakers at a luncheon program. Later that afternoon, I received an email from my co-speaker – a professional whom I admire – that started out: “You’re wonderful!” The writer added a couple of lines about the highlights of my presentation contribution. While I don’t consider myself wonderful, I certainly...
I was keeping a secret from my husband, Steve, and it was starting to wear on me. Having to watch what I said, not meeting the eyes of another who was alluding to it in front of him. And it wasn’t even my secret. But I had agreed to keep it. As constrained and burdened...
If you are gathering around the table with family and friends for that special after-services meal, you may be wondering what you can do to add a little pizazz to it. Here are five fun ways to Put Some Punch in Your Easter Brunch! 1. Eggs in a basket. Add some bacon or sausage, a...
When the first crocus peeps through the snow we start looking forward to the freshness of spring. Windows get opened and many of us get that itch. Out with the old, in with new – it’s spring cleaning time! What spring cleaning does for our homes – freshening, organizing, lightening up – it can do...
One of the few challenges more difficult than parenting is parenting a special needs child. The angst of working through medical issues, academic issues, and dealing with sometimes daunting equipment is just a fraction of the concerns that such parents have. So anything that can make otherwise intimidating equipment actually put a smile on one’s...
Conscious uncoupling? What? Are we talking about train cars here? Apparently not. Apparently ‘conscious uncoupling’ is a gentle, lovely term for an often chaotic, unlovely life situation. Divorce. But if we use unemotional words, maybe we can convince ourselves that this is an unemotional event, nobody will get hurt, and all will live happily ever...
