All was under control, until it wasn’t… I heard splashing — sending a jolt of warning, like a tiny, UNCOMFORTABLE electrical shock through my system. I was floating on the pool, half asleep, somewhere just short of dream land, but the disruption from absolute peace couldn’t be ignored. I should’ve…

The tilting floors and funhouse mirrors made the exit hard to find. — Teaching Kindergarten was like being The Ringmaster of my own little circus that year. The variety of acts and actors coupled with the sheer complexity of how many ways the acts could go wrong was beyond imagining. Until it wasn’t. This Big Top Year began with a wide variety of…

I would have given anything for a cell phone that day. — The River’s current was swift in places, requiring some back-seat paddling expertise, but mostly it was an easy, fun, floating day. We had quite the convoy! It was my husband and 3 kiddos, my parents, my 3 brothers, and a pretty good representation of my nieces and nephews along with…

She was the teacher’s little pet peach — but not so much at home. — I got this question pretty often. How is it that you present my child as stellar but at home they test me and throw tantrums for me? I told the parents that their child wasn’t sure about me. I was relatively new and untested by her. Her comfort level was…

Follow through or don’t bother wasting your breath. — “Follow the rule I’ve laid down or you will owe me a quarter. Yes, a whole quarter for every sock, shirt or pair of underwear. I’ve asked time and again and it isn’t happening. So, we’re going to change that. Turn your clothes right-side-out before you put them in the…

Life changes lanes when we focus on the good. — “It’s time to gather on the listening rug,” I announced cheerfully to my roomful of 5-year-olds. This resulted in shuffling and movement and every reaction to my request imaginable: One student kept coloring as if she were in her own little bubble of a world, totally oblivious to my words. …

It was the best compliment I’d ever received. I was sitting at breakfast while surrounded by the boisterous conversations of teenage, female athletes. Among this crowd was my high school, basketball playing daughter. We were at an out-of-town tournament. As the meal wrapped up, the coach approached me with an…

Let’s talk about it. — I’ve never heard casual conversation critiquing laughter. But why not? I think we should talk about it. I think we need to be aware… aware of how our laughter may reflect our character, beliefs and values. First of all, have you ever watched America’s Funniest Home Videos? …

Words are powerful. — To say my time was limited would be an understatement. And so, with the objective of saving time, I cut to the chase. Bobby wastes his time. He meets the bare minimum, but he doesn’t meet his personal potential. Bobby’s mom didn’t take it very well. In fact, she was…