FUN FRIDAY: Parents Should Have Fun Too

Last weekend (which holy cow I cannot believe I'm saying already) I went on a little trip. I do this at least once a year; 50% of the time it's for business and 50% of the time it's for pleasure. Sometimes both.

The best part of the trip (even though I was sick this time) was having a little R&R. I don't get that very often (some might say 'never-ever').

At one point over the weekend I found myself drawn to the lapping waves of the lake's edge. It wasn't long before I rolled up my pant legs and walked down to wade in the water.

It certainly wasn't my norm (at least not if away from home- this is actually my KIDS' thing). I mean I don't have time to have fun, never mind walk around leisurely in the water.

But last weekend I found myself there, doing just that, and eagerly anticipating every cool wave that came rolling in. It totally reminded me of my previous home (N.E.).

Only a short drive from the ocean, I knew I could always find peace (ANNND quiet) at many a waterfronts. Even with the babes:)

It brought me back. Back to a time of wonderful (and bad) memories. That's because of course my main reason for heading to the ocean was always to find peace and escape my at home misery and heartache.

I have always found myself thankful those rolling waves and saltwater beaches were there, strong for me. This time I also felt blessed that I am no longer there for that reason.

This time, it was for fun and a little relaxation.

It happened that this week though became a bit stressful upon my return and I was both surprised and blessed to get a video message from a friend...it was of our beaches back home...for what she called 'Beach Therapy'.

How did she know?

Because she's cool like that💛.

Here is to YOUR weekend and Fun Friday. Go find your happy place and when you get there, with your kids or your dog, or alone, roll up your pant legs and have a blast!

AND LEAVE THE REST BEHIND.

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!

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

Search This Blog