School Life | Widen The Circle
4 Ways to Connect With Your Kid’s Teacher
Do you remember your first grade teacher? I loved mine. I remember how Ms. Parker erased the board from left to right every day and then wrote the new date in the top right hand corner. I also remember how she showed me how to use a ruler... Read More
Social Life | Widen The Circle
Share Your Kids
I’m learning that friendship, as a parent, is even more life-giving (life-saving?) now than ever before. And this says a lot coming from a friendship-nostalgia-freak who has a file box of every single note I received in middle and high school organized by name of the sender. (If... Read More
Faith | Social Life | Widen The Circle
Where I Went When I Needed Parenting Help
If you’ve ever moved across the country with kids you are probably familiar with the word uprooted. Our daughter was going into kindergarten and our son into middle school when we moved from Texas to South Carolina and while it proved to be a great move for all... Read More
Social Life | Widen The Circle
Why Your Kids Need Five Other Adults in Their Lives
I have something like 1,300 contacts in my phone. No doubt, 1,300 is a crazy number. You might have double that, or half that. It’s just the world we live in. But even if you only had 100, you wouldn’t really know each of them well. Not deeply. Not... Read More
Special Topics | Widen The Circle
Remembering Those Who Have Lost A Baby
I remember the moment I became a mother. It was early Sunday morning. Still dark outside. My brain was groggy. Exhausted. A million things were running through my head but the loudest was “SLEEP.” I had to wait just a little longer until I could wrap myself back... Read More
Current Events | Social Life | Widen The Circle
Raising Kids Who Embrace Those Who are Different
“Mommy, what’s wrong with that kid?” Your child just blurted out an earnest question. . . in front of someone who appears to have a disability or simply looks different, somehow. Yikes. As a mother to a child with autism, my son has often prompted such innocent expressions... Read More
Social Life | Widen The Circle
Inviting Grandparents In
I will just go ahead and say it, my grandkids are brilliant geniuses. First grader Maggie can read the word ‘pinkalicious’, four-year-old Mollie can smell chocolate a mile away and baby Mason can fill a diaper like nobody’s business. Okay, some might say brilliantly average but not me.... Read More
Social Life | Widen The Circle
The Other Person Your Child Needs
We’re miles apart connected through cell phones, but the smile I feel in her voice sinks into my bones. With me, through moves across the country, career changes, moments when I was feeling sorry for myself, and times I needed to celebrate, Sibyl always had the words that... Read More
Social Life | Widen The Circle
Parenting Hack: Create a Board of Advisors
Carlos Whittaker gives a practical way to invite other adults to speak into the lives of your kids at critical times. OTHER PARENTING HACKS Date Your Kid’s Desires Change the Wi-Fi Password Read More