What My Heart Tells Me (and Those I Love)

For the last 60 days, I’ve been watching my words. They've told me a lot about the condition of my heart. 

During May’s The PURSE-onality Challenge (and now June’s TPC “lite”), I’ve blogged almost daily about my journey of “replacing ‘baditude’ with God’s word and gratitude.”  Using my Complaint-Free bracelet, I’ve been intentional about curbing complaining, criticism, gossip, and even sarcasm. 

My goal has been to become aware of my “baditude” habits so I can surrender them to God and replace them with scripture and praise.

A Change of Heart

During the last few weeks, despite typical end-of-the-school-year chaos, I’ve been experiencing the oddest sensation.

At first, I was worried that I was “checking out” or “numbing” (both residual “skills” from my eating disorder days.)

But no, each time, I was fully present.

I’m finding a few words that seem to fit: 

Calm. Open. Spacious.

To read this blog post in full, head over to The M.O.M. Initiative!

How Parents Support (and Sometimes Sabotage) Students' Success Part III

As parents, we want to help our children succeed in school.

In my twenty-two years as a classroom teacher (twenty-one as a parent), I’ve seen parent strategies that pay big dividends.

I’ve also seen well-intentioned efforts that actually cost the kids.

Today is Part 3 of a series in which we explore one support strategy and one form of sabotage.

(Here are links to Part 1 and Part 2.)

Support #3: Help Your Child Develop Organizational and Planning Systems

One day, I came home from 4^th grade in tears.

I’d been assigned a “research report” on the Yokut Indians, and I had no clue how to do it.

My mother used this report as an opportunity to teach me some much-needed organizational and planning skills. 

Here’s what she did:

(To read this blog post in full, head on over to The M.O.M. Initiative!)