Archive for July, 2011
Compass – Bubble Breathing
Have you ever been in a stressful situation and had to tell yourself to stop and take a deep breath? Do you remember how you felt once you took that breath? Generally, when we are angry or stressed our breathing becomes shallow and short, cutting off much needed oxygen to the brain. By pausing to [...]
Cause – Five Locked Doors
While we are celebrating independence there are many families who are being forced into complete dependence for food, shelter and other basic survival needs. Some people may perceive this dependence by way of the amount of taxes paid to the government and others notice the hardships that accompany such dependence. Either way, I am assuming we can [...]
Parenting – Learning to Walk Alone
During my short career as a parent there have been moments of resentment about the loss of freedom and independence I knew as a childless woman. Before I gave birth to my son I was fully aware that I would soon say goodbye to the life I was so familiar with. I did all of [...]
Education – Teaching My Daughter to Read During Naptime
In the summer of 1985, I had been a First Grade teacher for over 10 years and my children had begun their educational careers in the school where I worked. I was a single mom of three children and summer meant kids at home around the clock. A household, as we all know, runs around [...]
Psychology – To Play or Not to Play…
Since I began working with children, I have realized how important playing is to a child’s social and emotional development. This is the age of communication and we have become so accustomed to talking, discussing and analyzing. The children I work with have taught me that sometimes talking is overrated. It’s better to just “be.” [...]
Nutrition – Lemon Meringue Pie
It’s easy to spot a well-loved cookbook. Tattered, stained, and spineless, with pages missing, and notes scratched into the margins, these are the books we always return to. We check them first if we need inspiration for dinner, or turn to them for a favorite holiday dish, even if we’ve already memorized the recipe. Ask [...]
Arts – Creative Concoctions
This morning, our daughter, who is an artist living in Brooklyn, reminded me of some of her early “ creative” memories. A very early one was special for both of us but for different reasons. She now feels it was foundational for her as an independent thinker, woman, and artist. I know it was important for me as [...]
