Although the calendar clearly indicates that winter has arrived, here in south Florida we continue to swelter. I’ve lived in Florida since the late ’80s, my brain still finds it difficult to equate palm trees and sun lotion as part of the holiday ambiance. Holiday music helps, but Christmas shopping in shorts and a t-shirt still feels like an oxymoron. My senses say, “Hit the beach, ”
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Although Thanksgiving has passed, we are especially grateful for our good fortune as we note that great numbers of folks who have experienced traumatic hardships this year. Many have lost their homes due to the ravages of nature. Fire, floods, and hurricanes remind us how quickly our “stuff” can disappear leaving behind only memories, relationships and our courage to pick up the pieces and go
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Last week’s blog explored how values influence our parenting. We focused specifically on kindness and the importance of teaching our children how to be kind to themselves and others. During a follow-up conversation with my daughter—who also happens to be a teacher in addition to being a step-mom—she made an important point: it’s not enough to tell our children we value kindness, we must show
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Last week during a discussion around the dinner table, my daughter’s step-daughter posed a question: As a parent, what do you think is the most important thing you can teach your children? That’s a powerful and provocative question, especially from a high school freshman. I reflected for a few minutes and then responded. I believe that kindness serves as the anchoring root of all of my values.
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Halloween is just around the corner and a rapid succession of holidays will quickly follow. As Intentional Parents, we have the opportunity to be deliberate about which holidays to observe as well as how we will celebrate them. Whether we follow traditional routines or invent our own personalized versions, family traditions and celebrations help to weave a cohesive family identity. They are powerful
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I have skipped writing GIFT’s weekly blog post during the last few weeks because I’ve been in the process of moving. Downsizing actually. This requires me to be particularly disciplined about deciding what to keep. I’d forgotten what an energy and time drain moving can be. I had to handle every item in my home and decide its fate. Pack? Pass it on to one of the kids? Donate to charity? Toss?
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