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Oh No! My Son’s Off to College!

Oh No! My Son’s Off to College! How Do I Prepare for the Next Six Weeks?

After many years of dreaming, guiding, coaching, nagging, and finally helping our son graduate from high school, he will be traveling to a new home and a new school within the next few weeks. My primary concern is to help my son become adjusted to a new location, new people, and how to navigate through the new school system. My personal solution to these challenges is to help my son create a survival checklist of what to do and where to go when all else fails in this transition. My basic checklist at this time includes the following: [Read more…]

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Teaching Your Children How to Use the Library

Teaching Your Children How to Use the Library

As a mom of two elementary school-aged kids, I’m always looking for fun things for them to do during the summer at the libray. With a three-year age gap between them, though, it’s difficult to find something that would satisfy both their interests. With all the free and cost-saving resources the library has to offer (and air conditioning during hot summer days), maybe it’s time for you to rediscover this gem! [Read more…]

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What Was I Thinking When I Registered for a Parent Participation Preschool?

What Was I Thinking When I Registered for a Parent Participation Preschool?

Great! My kids were just accepted into an incredible parent participation preschool program. After I received my welcome letter, I was given the handbook of parent responsibilities and expectations. I felt lost and overwhelmed when reviewing the thirty-page handbook. [Read more…]

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They Can Do It…Really!

They Can Do It…Really!

We always  tell our children that they can do it; they can be whatever they want to be. When my five kids were young and as they grew up, I said the same thing. While I spoke those words, I also had an image of what “doing it” should look like.

 

Last week I attended my niece’s graduation from San Francisco State University. While I felt the exhilaration of her success, I pondered on how her journey had not taken the expected route. She had been interrupted, challenged and delayed. All the while, she had maintained the dream of graduating from college and becoming a social worker. [Read more…]

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Celebrating Your Child’s High School Rite of Passage!

Celebrating Your Child’s High School Rite of Passage!

I vividly reminder when my precious son turned one year of age. We celebrated with a delightful family birthday party that included a committed family and friends’ rite of passage. Our rite of passage included:

  • Asking all to become part of a village of support as guardians and godparents in our son’s journey to adulthood
  • Standing in a circle and having all explain how they would support my son’s emotional and social growth
  • Offering words of encouragement on how they would support their newly adopted godson as aunties and uncles
  • Envisioning how our son would mature into young adulthood
  • Providing a prayer of thanks to all for being part of our extended family in our son’s village

[Read more…]

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