Parenting Articles
Article: Grit Builders and Grit Stealers | Love & Logic
Perseverance is the key to building grit. There is no doubt that kids who develop it will lead happier and more productive lives than those who don’t. Listed below are few “grit builders” with…
Unwelcome Visitor | Myrna Lapres
About a month ago, I started hearing noises overhead at night while trying to fall asleep. We have a large oak tree in our back yard and it isn’t unusual to hear squirrels run…
Article: Simple Wisdom for Life | Myrna Lapres
For almost twenty-five years, I taught kindergarten and preschool. I believe that I learned as much or more than all the students that I had the privilege of interacting with each day. Learning to…
Article: Screen Time Challenges | Myrna Lapres
A young preschooler was trying to get his mother’s attention as she scrolled through social media sites on her phone. After trying repeatedly to get her attention, the young boy finally put his hands…
More on Family Synergy | Myrna Lapres
In 2008, the New York Giants were not supposed to win the Super Bowl. But the wild-card Giants took home the trophy. What happened to tip the scales in their favor? Some analysts feel…
Article: Love & Logic Parenting
Ali’s kids helped her create a pawn shop and a charity. Her twin toddlers didn’t mean to help create these entities, but they did and they learned some life lessons in the process.
Article: Looking Back to Look Ahead
Of all the knowledge that I have gleaned from the numerous parenting books that line my bookshelf and sit in stacks next to where I write my blogs can be distilled down to a…
Article: Realizations Learned from a Broken Oven | Myrna Lapres
Recently, I was needed to help my husband with the replacement of our kitchen oven. Afterwards, I was reflecting on the task and was amazed at our teamwork. I also realized something about me--I…
Article: Powerful Lessons from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
What words come to mind when you think about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr? Maybe dream, peace, believe, perseverance? Have you ever thought about how lessons from his life's work could be applied to…
Article: Parent-Child Connection: The Core Relationship that Rules the World | Myrna Lapres
Although our world has changed tremendously in the past 20-30 years, the thing that hasn’t changed is that the most important component in raising your child is your connection to him or her. Relationship…
Article: Choices & Goals in 2020 | Myrna Lapres
As we approach the end of 2020, there are many articles, blogs and advertisements that encourage us to think of our New Year’s Resolutions. According to an article on Forbes.com from 12/31/18, less than…
Article: Christmas Memories
This week, I am using a blog article that I submitted one year ago. It is about making memories at Christmas time. Whether you are celebrating your first Christmas with your child or getting…
Article: Franz Kafka and the Lost Doll
Kafka happened to met a girl who had lost her doll. He chose to do something to create an adventure out of a loss. We all have opportunities in life where we have the…
Article: In the Final Moments of His Life, Calvin Has One Last Talk with Hobbes | Myrna Lapres
This blog is from a Facebook post that I saw thanks to my sister Joanna Osborne Masingila sharing it. I love what it says about what is truly important in life—memories, unconditional love and…
Article: Life Lessons While Shopping | Myrna Lapres
It is that time of year—when shopping can have additional challenges with all the holiday items on display, crowds of people to contend with and lists that are longer than usual. You might be…
Article: Five Tips to a Year-Long Thanksgiving | Myrna Lapres
In just a few days, we will be sitting down to enjoy Thanksgiving meal with family and friends. Dinner conversations in homes across the country will begin with the ritual of going around the…
Article: Homework Challenges | Myrna Lapres
Miriam was at a loss about her son, Michael. For two straight weeks, she attacked his homework folder as soon as he walked in the door, diving into it like it contained all the…
Article: A True Love Story—Sir Gawain and Ragnell | Myrna Lapres
The story of Sir Gawain and Ragnell captures the essence of true, unconditional love which is meant to be the basis of all relationships. Sir Gawain wasn’t focused only on his own needs but…
Article: The 9 Most Important Minutes of Your Child’s Day
Did you know that your child’s emotional health can be largely impacted by the way you guide them in key moments throughout their day? And here are the nine most important minutes of your…
Article: Embrace the Child Within | Myrna Lapres
Dr. Shefali Tsabary says in her book, "The Conscious Parent" that to be more effective in relating to our children, we need to be willing to face and resolve issues in ourselves that come…
Article: Dealing With Angry People
Is there anyone in your life who seems to fly off the handle at the slightest perceived insult? Do you know anyone who throws verbal barbs and biting accusations your way any time you…
Article: Relationship Translator | Myrna Lapres
On our recent visit to Rome, Michael and I were greatly assisted by the Google Translate App. It was so helpful when we were ordering tickets to the Vatican Museum, knowing which direction to…
Article: Triggers & Awakenings | Myrna Lapres
In his book "Tribes" Seth Godin uses the story about the balloon factory and the unicorn to talk about change—the balloon factory is the status quo and the unicorn represents the impetus for change.…
Article: Healing Through Being Present | Myrna Lapres
I am a doer--I thrive on organizing, making lists, accomplishing tasks, getting things done. On my healing journey, I have begun to realize that it is my way of making order out of chaos.…
Article: Marble Jar Friends | Myrna Lapres
When Brene Brown's third grade daughter came home sobbing about not being able to ever trust a friend again, she told her, “Trust is like a marble jar. You share those hard stories and…
Article: The Long View | Myrna Lapres
As we parent, we need a long view into the future for our families. Investing in our children isn’t only for today. It is for who they will become, the families they will have,…
Article: Balancing Busy Families
Many parents ask, “Is it really possible to raise well-adjusted kids while at the same time trying to manage an incredibly hectic and stressful work and family life?” It is important to remember that…
Article: The Best Way to Nurture Your Child’s Brain
There is a secret hidden in plain sight for all parents of young children: the most important—and astoundingly simple—thing you can do for your children’s future success in life is to talk to them.…
Article: Helping Our Children Deal With Death
Death is a common theme in cartoons and television, and some of your child’s friends may have already lost a loved one. But experiencing grief firsthand is a very different and often confusing process…
Article: Helping Our Children Fall in Love with the Outdoors
Did you know the average North American child now spends about seven hours a day staring at screens and mere minutes engaged in unstructured play outdoors? Yet recent research indicates that experiences in nature…