Tag Archives: parenting

We’re All Amateurs

Thought for the Week Humans are, almost by definition, amateurs. Think about it: Just when you start to get a handle on being a toddler, you become a kid. And just when you’re halfway proficient at being a kid, you … Continue reading

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Humor, Quips and Quotes, Religion/Faith | Tagged , , , , , | 36 Comments

The Secret of Adulting

As a kid, I learned the 4 Stages of Life from The Wizard of Oz: 1) The Dorothy Stage – When you’re a child a collection of quirky, confused adults will do their best to show you the way; 2) … Continue reading

Posted in Humor, Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , | 27 Comments

I Forgive You for Not Being Perfect, Dad

My Real Memoir Mark Twain famously said, “When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have him around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much … Continue reading

Posted in Humor, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , , | 56 Comments

Never Grow Up!

Grow? Yes, in all the ways that count. But “grow up?” Hmm, maybe we should rethink that. Gina Marinello-Sweeney puts it this way: “Maturity is so often considered to be synonymous with ‘adult.’ But I truly feel that maturity may … Continue reading

Posted in Humor, Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , | 31 Comments

Fierce Love

Thought for the Week I’m not a violent person. In fact, when I was studying method acting in college—the tap-into-your-feelings approach made famous by Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro—I had difficulty inhabiting a particularly violent role because I’d never … Continue reading

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Humor, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , | 44 Comments

Fatherhood and Beyond

Photo by Josh Willink Today is Father’s Day in the U.S. A day when I remember how imperfect my father was, and yet how good a father he was. Just as I know my children can say the former of … Continue reading

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Joyful Return

Photos: (Left) Daughter Beth and (new) Son-in-Law Sergio when they first started dating. (Middle) Princess Beth. (Right) Beth’s Wedding Shower So, my wife and I just flew home from California “and boy are our arms…” Oh, never mind. Our arms … Continue reading

Posted in Humor, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , , | 35 Comments

How to Be a Parent

Source: piximus.net “Before I got married, I had six theories about raising children. Now, I have six children and no theories.” ~John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester (mid-1600s) Thought for the Week How to Be a Parent? The answer is … Continue reading

Posted in Humor, Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , | 44 Comments

When I Became a ‘Real’ Teacher

Originally posted on A Teacher's Reflections:
 ‘TheHundred Little Things’ The hundred little things- that’s what it’s all about, in teaching and in life.  It took me many years as a teacher to figure this out.  Thank goodness I had…

Posted in Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

Live!

Photo by James Wheeler Thought for the Week “I’m not telling you to make the world better…I’m just telling you to live in it. Not just to endure it, not just to suffer it, not just to pass through it, … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , | 28 Comments