Search Results for: blog is it time to shake things up

The Hidden Dangers of “Shake it Off” Parenting

                What do you do when your child is upset? The answer to that question can be based on the parenting style that you choose to practice. One option is to comfort your child until he or she feels better. Another option is to tell your child to “shake off” the injury or emotion that he or she is experiencing. Parents that do this often feel it is a good way to help their child grow up. However, there are some hidden dangers to “shake it off” parenting that you should be aware … Continue reading →

Genetic Testing Can Shake a Family Tree

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It is generally presumed that the man who is married to your ancestor’s mother is, in fact, his biological father. The same assumption is made about the parents of your living relatives. People who work in genetics find that about 10% of people are not really the biological child of the man that they call Dad. This information could really shake up someone’s family tree! One of the things I like best about Facebook is that I get to read the fascinating news articles that my friends post to their pages. I am lucky to have friends who frequently post … Continue reading →

Cleaning Things You Can’t See

It’s easy to get overwhelmed with spring cleaning, there’s so much to do, where to start? And when you are finished, is it really clean or does it just look clean? A few things that are often overlooked during spring cleaning can help your house actually be cleaner. You can see the baseboards but most of these things you can’t see so they don’t get done. Check for mold. Mold is such a huge health hazard that it is worth the time investment to search it out. Check the bathrooms and the basement, but also check the attic. Poor ventilation … Continue reading →

Shakespeare and Romance: Romeo & Juliet

One of the reasons why I often like to facilitate discussion about my type of romance is because I feel that it isn’t represented much in the media. We draw some ideas of our cultural norms from the media, so others like me might be led to feel that they’re not normal. Interestingly, one of the most famous examples of my type of romance, or at least extolling against silly romance, is often misinterpreted: “Romeo & Juliet.” People will call an ideal male lover a “Romeo,” when in fact that was the opposite of what Shakespeare intended. Shakespeare liked to … Continue reading →

Time Is Short

My marriage has been shaken up a bit this past weekend but in a good way. Sometimes you get those moments in life when you are able to see things in a different light. Instead of being wrapped up in the day-to-day tasks, you can take a moment to really appreciate what you have. This was thrust on us in a couple of different ways. The first was when I received a call on Thursday that my father had suffered a heart attack. Sometimes all it takes is a near death experience to get you really thinking about life. The … Continue reading →

Gearing Up For St Patrick’s Day

Get out your green, St Patrick’s Day is this week. Forget about all of the Easter baskets and bunnies that are on the shelves at the store, it is time for some Leprechauns, limericks, and all other things Irish. In honor of St Patrick’s Day, I decided to learn a little more about the man who is the reason for this great holiday. St Patrick is the patron saint and national apostle of Ireland. Many of the details of St Patrick’s early life are unclear at best. What is known about him is that he was largely responsible for bringing … Continue reading →

Scary Times

I remember September 11th, and I’m sure you do too. My daughter wasn’t born yet, but in a couple of months we’ll make our way to Manhattan to visit my brother, and I’m debating whether to talk with her about what happened there. I also remember listening to a discussion by attachment experts and psychologists after the fact. As teachers and parents across the United States and around the world grappled with what to say to their children about the terrorist attacks, the experts were rather unified in their opinions. Tell children that they are safe, they said. Yes, explain … Continue reading →

Little Things Mean a Lot

To lose a quick few pounds for that high school reunion in a couple of weeks you only have to remember a some simple rules. It might be painful to some, but if you really want to do it, there is a way. • Do not eat after 7 p.m. This means absolutely nothing. • Drink ten 8-ounce glasses of water each day. This will flush out your body. • Skip the fast food restaurants. Go home and make a salad or some thinly sliced turkey and a vegetable. • Do not drink your calories. Forget the milkshakes and cappuccinos. … Continue reading →

Does Becoming Orthodox Mean Giving Everything Up?

The other day, I saw a letter published on the internet to Rabbi Tzvi Freeman. The writer was concerned about a friend of his who was once a successful musician, but who had given everything up when he became religious. The friend was learning in Yeshiva (an academy where Torah is learned intensively) day and night and didn’t have time for his music, much less, to spend time with his friends. When the concerned man asked his friend if he spent any time composing and playing, the newly-religious friend said he had “lost his musical soul and gained another one,” … Continue reading →

An Interview with Beth Terrell about Her Dancing Puppy, Luca

People who are active with their pets intrigue me. And when I say active, I mean doing things like doing agility training or enrolling in therapy dog programs. Back in February, I participated on a panel with some fellow Middle Tennessee Sister in Crime authors, one of whom was Beth Terrell. We got to talking about things outside of writing, and she told me about how much fun she’d been having with her little puppy that she got about a year ago. Specifically, she was raving about the puppy dancing classes they’d been taking. I thought that’d make a fun … Continue reading →