Parenting
The Four Seasons of Marriage
There is a local church in town that refers engaged couples to see me for four sessions before they walk down the aisle. Session one is always easy– Why marriage? How did you meet? When did you fall in love? Tell me about your families? What do you appreciate in...
Choosing The Good Stuff is Not Always The Easy Choice
The text came on Sunday afternoon from my daughter who’s home from college. She knew I was off work the next day and needed what she calls the “basics”— solid colored shirts, t-shirts, and jeans. She asked to go shopping together, about two hours away from where we...
Casserole Sunday
Every Sunday I get the best text of the week. “Hey… Will you make me a casserole”. It comes from my middle child, the one who doesn’t ask for much. The independent one, a hard working college student, not a big talker, and the one who rarely leans on others. I call...
What Your High School Junior Knows
Dear Parents of High School Juniors, As someone who has the privilege of working with high school students every day, hear me out on this one. Sometimes things are so obvious that we fail to take notice. Please, please, please, stop telling your precious child that...
The Longest Shortest 9 Months
We move them in— we move them out. It’s the longest shortest nine months What happens during the dash of drop off and pick up is a different kind of growth. It’s the kind of growth you can’t predict or prepare for and the kind of growth every young person needs....
No Goodbye Is An Easy Goodbye
They prepare you for the first goodbye. You know what to expect and you feel armed with tools to get you through. Lunches with friends, traveling, remodeling a room or two, finding new interests. It helps salve the parent-heart that suddenly feels so lost and...
Master being Smart: Lessons Learned in an Uber
Sometimes we are the teacher and sometimes we are the student. Last weekend on my way home from Calgary I took a very early morning Uber to the airport. By coincidence or by fate, I got Hafiz as my driver. Twenty five minutes later, I was dropped off and felt like...
Parenting 2.0: Our College Roommates
Last week my daughter got strep throat. It’s bound to happen when you live in a petri dish called a dorm. It was no fun but she survived. Thank you Door Dash for the $18 smoothie. The student health center called the prescription for antibiotics over to a pharmacy...
The Other Side of Sports
Recently my dear friend lost her husband to ALS. He was an amazing man- a true gentleman- with a kind spirit and who left an indelible mark on those who crossed paths with him. He left behind a beautiful wife he adored and three grown adult children. Growing up all...
Entangled Roots Create Lifelong Bonds
💛💛💛 Last night my daughter said goodbye to her childhood best friend. They are leaving this week-two days apart—both off on new adventures and both ready to fly. There is something special about your childhood best friend. They have been...
