Archive | October, 2012

Monday Memorandum #1

28 Oct

(Sending this one out a bit early!)

One of my favorite presentations to give is called Parent-Teacher Partnership Skills. Typically, I give it as a workshop to both teachers at one of their in-services and then to parents at their PTO or similar organizations.

Every Monday for the next five weeks we’ll be posting one each of the five reminders from: parents, teachers, kids and me to the other groups.

“Education is a painful, continual and difficult work to be done in kindness, by watching, by warning; by praise, but above all, by example.”

                                                                                                                                                  John Ruskin Continue reading →

So, you want to be a Stay at Home Mom, eh? ~ Part One

27 Oct

When school began this year, Ben was required to complete several surveys about his life, hobbies, family and things of that nature. Typical stuff. He left these papers lying on the kitchen table one evening, so I took a look. One of the questionnaires included a section about his parents – our phone numbers, hobbies and what we do for a living. Continue reading →

The Simplicity of Adolescent Behavior

23 Oct

While listening to the radio the other day, I heard an expert in pre-teen and teen behavior explain to the listening audience what goes on in the minds of adolescents as they are pushing our buttons and being obstinate, obnoxious, rude or disrespectful. She was relaying what she routinely articulates to kids and their parents when they come to see her as an adolescent psychologist. Her explanation went on for five or six minutes. That’s a long time on the radio. I’m betting it would feel like a lifetime to a kid sitting in her office, because it occurred to me, that no one could process all those fancy words and complex concepts in such a short time. Continue reading →

Everyday Mental Preparation

21 Oct

I was going over some notes for a presentation I’m giving at a coaches conference in a couple of weeks titled: Mental Preparation for Athletes. The main point of my session is for coaches to create a secure practice and team environment where athletes can achieve a desired state of ‘relaxed focus’. Continue reading →

Game Day

18 Oct

I learned the hard way what the power of suggestion could do for kids…

Many years ago, I coached a cheer team that was going after a State Championship repeat. I had been coaching a few years by then, so I should have displayed a bit more grace under pressure, but hadn’t quite learned my lesson yet. Continue reading →

Bringing a Loved One to School – Part Two

9 Oct

Scroll down to read Part One first!

I spent the ‘Bring a Loved One to School Day’ morning writing my blog and cleaning my house and having a bit of a pity party (I may have overeaten a little in my despair). After all, as I was leaving school, I saw several boys in Ben’s grade walk in with their Moms or Dads. I tried to keep it in perspective with respect to where my son was in the areas of confidence and outlook. I tried so hard not to take it personally! And I kept seeing his concerned, sad face when he asked if I was okay and if we could make it a date for next year, as he ushered me out the school doors. Man, did this sting!! Continue reading →

Bringing a Loved One to School – Part One

9 Oct

Last Spring, Ben’s school hosted ‘Bring a Loved One to School Day’….I was the loved one leading up to it. And then, in the parking lot, my son turned to me with watery eyes and said  “Mom, I don’t want to hurt your feelings or anything, but I’m not sure I want you to come.” Wow…Talk about a zinger. I assured him I wouldn’t embarrass him, since I thought that was what he was afraid of. He assured me that wasn’t it. He just wasn’t sure how many other kids – especially boys – would be bringing their parents and he didn’t want to be one of the only ones. Continue reading →

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