Missing You

We’ve been running around all day. We had a blast, but we barely had a chance to sit down and breathe. By the time we finally got home Logan went straight to his dad’s, which was fine because I had a lot of cleaning to catch up on from the last couple of days. I ran from one thing to the next trying to hurry and get everything done before my little munchkin got home. As we were sitting in bed reading bedtime stories tonight he said, “Mommy, when I’m at Dad’s I miss you.” My little heart melted and … Continue reading

Leap to Help Frogs

If I lived in the Orlando area I would definitely buy a Walt Disney World annual pass. I’d especially consider doing so once I had children, and no, it isn’t so that I could drag a bunch of toddlers around the Magic Kingdom all of the time. Or try to get myself locked in there overnight to live out some childhood fantasies. Well, it wouldn’t be just for that. It’d be so I could play Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom. All right, I kid, though only sort of. No, I’d get a pass, and ones for my as-yet fictional children, … Continue reading

More Thankful Traditions

Gratitude is one of the attributes of happy people, and I try to cultivate it in myself and in my family. I don’t cultivate it because I want to be better than others. I just cultivate it because it makes me feel good to note all of the things that I can be thankful for. Even when the day is hard, it is easy to be thankful. I am thankful for my health. Yesterday I had severe back pain that was so bad that I couldn’t sit down. I was very grouchy. Yet at the end of the day when … Continue reading

Sweating the Small Stuff

Although self-help books are often referred to as “pop psychology” and are discounted by many in the mental health field, there is often something to them. Richard Carlson was the author of “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” and the series that followed. Although he passed away 5 years ago, his work still carries value for those who find themselves in a constant state of worry and stress. Sure, many of the concepts are generic and pretty easy to figure out, but sometimes we need reminders that it can be easy to let go of things when we put them in … Continue reading

The Importance of Dad’s in Raising Teen Girls

Some recent comments on a few teen based blog posts here at families.com has called out Dad’s and their absence in the life of teen girls. As the mother of both a male and female teen, I have to admit that my husband and I tend to team off according to sex. My daughter and I have our girl things, and my husband and son have their boy and tech stuff. There are few people alive who would poo-poo the importance of the value of the father in a boy’s life, especially the life of a male teen. However, few … Continue reading

Longevity And Your State of Mind

Nature seems to reward those who love life and are optimistic. Studies from the Yale University indicate that people who are optimistic in middle age tend to live seven years (or more) longer than those who only look on the down side. Why? Researchers from the University of Kentucky think it’s the stress factor. Optimists do get stressed, but they also tend to turn it around quickly and get back to a positive state of mind. So how do you become an optimist if you aren’t one already? There are four habits you can adopt that can make a big … Continue reading

How To Wax Your Eyebrows

I must confess: I never paid much attention to my eyebrows until my friend Gwen cornered me in the ladies’ room and plucked me. After that, I started to worry about the Dreaded Unibrow. I submitted to a professional eyebrow waxing a few times, but at $15 per session, it wasn’t something I could put in the budget all the time. You can wax your eyebrows at home, and it’s pretty quick and easy. I have relatively sensitive skin, and I haven’t had any problems after waxing — so if you’re feeling brave and want to give it a try, … Continue reading

Life With Curly Hair

I used to hate my curly hair. I was so envious of friends with straight hair, even when they had perms! My hair was wild and poofy and unmanageable… and it still is. These days, I’ve learned to love my curly hair. In general, curly hair tends to dry out easily. It can be more brittle than straight hair, and can be prone to frizzing. Regardless of length, you may spend more time taking care of your curly hair than your straight haired friends spend on theirs. So how can you make your hair care routine easier? Some hair-care experts … Continue reading

Be Kind to Yourself

Being kind to yourself is not the same as being self-indulgent. Being accepting of yourself and your flaws is not the same as being lazy and unwilling to make healthy changes. Self kindness is: Recognizing things you do that are harmful to yourself and stopping them. Defending yourself against negative thoughts, words, and actions from within. Defending yourself against negative thoughts, words, and actions from others. Being honest about your flaws and outstanding qualities. Asking for help when you need it. Resting when you need it. Believing in yourself. Choosing to make changes in your life. Self kindness is not: … Continue reading

Helping A Person With Body Image Issues

Sometimes, it’s easier to see problems in our friends and family than it is to see them in ourselves. If you have a friend or loved one with a body image problem, there are a lot of things you can do to help. Watch for the warning signs of a serious body image problem. If a person is spending an hour a day (or more) talking about his “flaws”, that’s a major indicator of a serious problem. Also watch for a person changing their normal routine because of a supposed “flaw” — like a person who won’t go out for … Continue reading