Tag Archive for: advice
The Power of Appreciation
I’ve lived long enough to see many of my divorced friends find new mates. It’s quite a relief actually – not because I think everybody needs to be a couple, but because their divorces have left scars that I’m happy to see healing.
In…
The High Cost of Bad Parenting
I believe that most parents are good parents. It’s my observation that a majority of our citizens are well-behaved, respectful, and law-abiding. But I also see a society that devotes an immense amount of energy and resources to deal with…
It’s All My Fault
When I went to college in the mid ‘70s, I made fun of people who sat in the front row of the class. I thought their eagerness to get good grades was a “kiss ass” thing and that real “free thinkers” didn’t have to conform to the rigorous…
A Legacy Of Love
My Grandfather, Nathan, was an incredibly shy man. In addition to being very short (5’4”), he was a quiet and kind immigrant who listened far more than he spoke. He came from Russia to pursue a better life, and made his living as a bicycle-riding…
Are You a Free Range Parent ?
I never thought I’d use a new-age term for happy chickens to address a parenting-related issue, but I suppose over-cautious parents are as oppressive to children as cages are to chickens.
The organization known as Free Range Kids is “fighting…
Kanye’s Silver Lining
Yep, we almost saw it again, Kanye West deciding that his musical opinion trumps all others – and that he is the true arbiter of all musical “art.” Part of the good news is that we didn't see it – at least we didn’t see the rude…
Weddings and World Peace
My wife, JoAnn, and I started this year on the perfect note - we went to a wedding on New Year’s Eve. Essentially, we doubled down on hope.
After all, what is more optimistic than two people sharing their love on a day that marks the beginning…
Five Easy Resolutions Every Parent Can Make
These are difficult times in which to raise children. We’ve become a culture that mistrusts authority, that believes individuals are often more important than the society, and that everyone deserves special treatment. As a result, it is up…
Making Marriage Work
In honor of the fact that JoAnn and I are celebrating our thirty-seventh wedding anniversary this week, I thought I’d reflect a little on what I think has allowed our relationship to survive.
People express their understandings of a marriage…
Trickle Down Parenting
When my wife JoAnn was pregnant with Emily, our fourth child, my mother decided that JoAnn needed a “day off.” She invited our family (three boys, ages fifteen, twelve and, six plus our newborn) and my sister’s family to meet her for dinner…