Building an Interest
A father’s approach to problem solving creates lifelong memories.
“My father had a very simple policy: all problems were just puzzles to be solved – all puzzles had a solution. The trick was to understand….”
The Power of a Name
An adopted son receives an unforgettable lesson from his new father.
“When I was seven years old and at a family gathering, I noticed all my cousins calling my dad by his given name, Joe. So I started….”
The Traditions We Kept
A father of four reflects on the steps that helped continue good family communication and build positive memories after the death of his wife, Maureen.
“When my wife passed away, the children were 12,12,14 and 15. The challenge of parenting as a single dad was terrifying. I didn’t have a plan, but I still wanted to be a family….”
Lessons from a Big Mistake
A psychiatrist remembers her father’s reaction to an early driving mishap, and reflects on how that response guides her work and parenting today.
“An old family video shows me, around five years of age, crying… frustrated that my toys keep falling off a toy wheelbarrow as I struggle….”
A Closer Relationship
The memorable day my husband began teaching our son about money skills and budgeting.
My husband bravely became part of our family when the kids were teenagers. Memories of our wedding ceremony always make me chuckle. I picture us….”
Headlong
A university student was having the rough kind of grownup morning. How could her parent help turn the day around?
“My daughter’s day didn’t start off well. She’d stayed up late to finish university essays and study for an exam, and only got a few hours of sleep. In the morning she hurried to get ready for the 7:15 am train and realized she was getting a cold….”
Helping Children with Mental Health Issues Related to the Pandemic
Resources to help our children work through the challenges of the past three-plus years
“Mental health organizations report that, linked to the pandemic, children are showing higher levels of anxiety, depression and loneliness….”
What Leaked Out
Dealing with both insomnia and the three-year anniversary of the pandemic, how can this parent turn the day around?
“I can usually deal with insomnia, but not today. After three nights of poor sleep my body feels like a heavy, water-filled container. When I walk upstairs my legs feel weighted….”
Balancing Darkness and Light
Lessons from a relative who lived with significant physical challenges
“In early January, I went to my cousin’s funeral. Steve died relatively young: he was only in his 60s but experienced lifelong …”
Unfair Tests
Why do children expect parents to keep up with technology trends? A parent reflects on these daunting expectations, and gets to the root of a recent challenge.
My 20-something children test me in ways I never did my parents. They expect me to keep up with major cultural and technology shifts – to know some trending songs – to recognize popular celebrities. And to have a sense of who’s in, and …
