Growing Up Well

  • Raising Countercultural Kids in the United States of Addiction (Part 3 of 3)

    The trends are not looking good for the mental and emotional health of young people, across all demographics. For instance, most people think of college as one of the happier times in a person’s whole life. However, according to a recent survey by the American College Health Association, 52 percent of college students reported feeling…

  • Prepare for Happiness

    Lately, I have been pondering the question, “What are some things that I can do to put myself in a better position to be more happy?” The following is an outline summary of the things that seem to work for most people. It comes from a variety of sources and is not specific to any…

  • Teach Your Children Compassion

    No matter the age, our children need to be trained to be compassionate. It does not come naturally. Kids are egocentric, but they can and should be taught to consider the needs of others, as much as they consider their own. Some of those needs are invisible, so we need to become sensitive. Our job…

  • Living in Crisis

      Our family is in crisis. It’s not the first time, and it won’t be the last. Three weeks ago, our severely disabled 13-year-old daughter, Kathryn, had a full spinal fusion surgery. According to the “pain team” of anesthesiologists and neurologists, it is the second most painful surgery to recover from. (It’s second only to…

  • Raising Boys to be Real Men

    Boys are misunderstood.  Too often, they are disciplined and shamed by their teachers, parents, or grandparents because it is falsely assumed that good boys should act just like good girls. Raising boys is a topic of numerous books, but one that stands out is Raising Cain, by Dan Kindlon and Michael Thompson.  I had the…

  • Healthy Adults, Healthy Kids

    Being healthy as an adult will yield both direct and indirect benefits for the kids in your care.  Take care of yourself, for their sake. This video is thought-provoking and interesting, even if you think you know everything about being healthy. Here’s proof that we need help in this area:  Super-Fatty Menu Items

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