What Should You Do To Commemorate September 11th?

On the 13th anniversary of such a horrific event - one that we aren't supposed to forget-

What do you do?

Talk to kids about it?

Celebrate National Day of Service?

Educate yourself on the events?

Read more blog posts here about 9/11?

Fly flags at half staff?

Learn about how some of the children of 9/11 have coped and where they are now?

Thank a service person in your community who every day risks their lives for strangers?

A number of these could be considered expected, helpful or right… but I think that there is only one thing which could help our minds when we are experiencing ill feelings over the anniversary of a major terrorist attack on our nation - a nation known for freedom and growth...

How about just sit for five minutes in a moment of silence?

You could pray. And if you don't believe in any type of higher up, write a note, write a letter or just outwardly be thankful for what you have- ask the universe to deliver our world to a better place.

This event was seen as insurmountable, and while we have recovered some, we surely have not forgotten. It's just hard to determine what should be remembered...and what should be done.

Last night's Presidential Address was not good…but maybe that depends upon who you ask...
Regardless, we are a hurting nation and we're in tough times with so much illness, war and suffering- we need some major pull in a more positive direction…the question is how?

Reality is, we cannot as individuals take it all in, and in one day change the world.
But together, and over time, we can certainly make an effort.

So for now, take a moment of silence, praise your children, and praise living.
Because it's the most immediate, most healthy thing you can do for yourself and your family today.

For Ohio, here is a community-wide time for a moment of silence.

Back to School Anxiety: Bullying

Download “School Boy Being Stressed” by David Castillo Dominici via freedigitalphotos.net I recently wrote about how to help your child if they’re struggling with going back to school because they were bullied. My biggest most important tip was to listen, because I honestly could not write a ‘How-to-make-them-not-afraid’ column. Frankly I thought that was absurd. Fear is sometimes real. Anxiety is sometimes truly there, and for a good reason. Our job as parents isn’t to try to make it go away, it’s to try to find out the true source of those worrisome feelings. If you’d like to read more, click here. And if you’re child is struggling to find excitement about the new school year, don’t deny it, just accept it and move forward gently. Here’s some more on bullying: Family Matters Links: A Touching Story/Song Bullying: A thing of the past A Peace Poem By My Teenage Daughter A Deeper Insight into My Thoughts on People Who Bring Harm to Others Other Links: Stop Bul

6 Ways to Support Teens and Mental Health (Column Related)

Enjoying a trip to see family and exploring the outdoors. May was Mental Health Awareness Month. It’s over now, but it shouldn’t be. I’m not a medical professional or anything even close, but I am convinced that every person on the planet (no matter age, economic status, profession, race, or gender) is vulnerable to events that can alter their state of mind. If you’re not sure about this, just research the increase in the amount of people seeking psychological help due to the pandemic, then try getting an appointment with a therapist or counselor that doesn’t require weeks or months on a wait list. There are so many things damaging our mental health that we don’t even realize. Add underlying issues not yet detected and undiagnosed…it’s a bad situation made worse, and the need for support more urgent. Many teens are struggling with mental health issues right now and many of us don’t even know it. How could we? Not too many teens feel comfortable talking to adults about ‘their stuff’ a

Green Punch Buggy....!!!!

Green Punch Buggy...No Punch Back! As I was writing this blog post, my son came to me showing off his Lego creation. And don't you know I got hit at least five times since on my computer screen was displaying at least five different punch buggies, of five different colors thanks to Google Images. (Bad timing I'm thinking...) How can we possibly have world peace with these silly cars in the world!? ;) Don't the owners of these cute-but-obnoxious-cars understand that driving these things around town promotes violence!? ;) Anyhow.... The original purpose of this blog was to ask parents everywhere this question: Do you find yourself saying 'PUNCH BUGGY *BLANK-COLOR*! ' to yourself, even when the kids are not in the car??? I do! Isn't it funny how those games we used to play as a child are still around? I bet our parents say the same thing.... HAPPY FRIIIIIIDAAAAYYYY! P.S. I got hit at least ten more times, since as my son stood beside

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