My child flipped out—staying calm wasn't easy
Dealing with kids' anger is a tricky thing
Photo: Freeimages.com – Roman Volkov
This post contains coarse language.
It's amazing how quickly things can go from happy to shit show.
One minute everything's fine. Then someone gets angry, seemingly out of nowhere. But if you examine further, there's often an underlying issue, some resentment that's been festering.
My boys were . . .
This is why empathy between a parent and child is important
After dislocating my finger, I'm forever grateful for my kids' love and concern
Photo: Freeimages.com – Adrian, Canada
I was 4 and I’ll never forget.
Our gazes locked. A kindergarten classmate; her eyes, red, swollen. Tears streamed down her face.
I felt something. You know the feeling. Starts in your heart, works its way through your throat, eyes, rolling like the surf crashing toward shore.
I cried. Because . . .
This story will make you question manhood
Being only tough and strong prevents boys and men from discovering their authentic selves
Photo: Freeimages.com – Josef Faustbeck
Take it like a man.
How often have you heard this expression? Or maybe one of its cousins: Man up. Don’t be a sissy. Be a man. Don’t cry.
When I played university football, emblazoned at the top of our dressing room, in huge, black lettering, read the words: INTIMIDATE AND DOMINATE.
I . . .
Maybe I don't want to stop this feeling
(Even if it hurts)
Photo: Freeimages.com – Mignonne Meekels
Maybe I don't want to stop this feeling
(Even if it hurts)
ball of emotion
compact, sweet
undercurrent
pride
wistful
DNA extension
how do you elicit this
range
bass to treble
8va
octave
crescendo of love
dolce
molto vivace
sometimes anger
but always
intense
hard to detach
maybe i don't want to
stop this feeling . . .
My son broke his collarbone and my heart skipped a beat
A morning in Urgent Care reminded us to slow things down
Photo – Freeimages.com: Jacque Stengel
The pain must have been excruciating upon impact. I cringe at the thought of my seven-year-old's collarbone snapping.
The call came in at 11:03 a.m. The school secretary said he fell playing soccer. They put his arm in a sling; after tears, he returned to class. She said he seemed okay. Nobody . . .
Posted in: emotions
How my mom inspired me to be a writer
She fostered a love of reading and writing through her diary
Photo: Freeimages.com – Sue Anna Joe
When I was a kid, Mom encouraged me to keep a journal. "Aw, do I have to write?" I often complained.
She said I'd thank her as an adult.
My mother documented her experiences and viewed things from my kid perspective. The diary, sometimes written in the second person, was like a pre-internet blog.
She . . .
How I'm coping with my sons' sibling rivalry
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction
Newton's third law:
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
I use this as a reminder in coping with my sons' sibling rivalry. Usually, it starts over something silly (at least it seems that way to me). Whether it's a water bottle, soccer ball, video game, it doesn't matter. The argument is basically the same. One kid . . .
Posted in: emotionsempathybrotherssibling rivalry