Creating Family Mission Statements

WHY MAKE A MISSION STATEMENT Beginning with the end in mind in your family life is about being a deliberate parent. We are so busy, it is easy to be doing, without really accomplishing.  We spend so much time reacting to what is coming at us: racing to the drug store for assignment-required poster board, running to the field for a soccer game,  picking up a freshly tuned instrument, planning  for a birthday...

How to Run a Family Meeting: Calming Emotional Chaos

Family life is busy.  There is grocery shopping, banking, housekeeping, child-caring, school volunteering.  Now add to this list, the emotional chaos resulting  from unmanaged ADHD- damaged sibling relationships, stressed parent disagreements. Family meetings can begin the process of getting ADHD behaviors under control in your house. Schedule family meetings at a natural pause in your weekly schedule. Consider...

Happy International Women’s Day

Today is the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, first celebrated by Denmark, Switzerland, Germany and Austria in 1911.  The UN began celebrating this day in 1975, recognizing women’s roles in peacemaking efforts. Studies show that populations, in which more than 30 percent of women  are represented in their governments, are more peaceful and more productive societies than those in which...

Using a Weekend Planning Worksheet to Lower Stress and Find Mommy-Refresh Time

How many times have you said, “the weekend just slipped past me?”  Weekends, deeply packed with band practice, scout meetings and birthday parties leave little time to prepare for the week or have some of your own emotional and physical down time to regroup for the coming week.  We have had weekends, in which the days were so packed that a best friend’s birthday party was missed: our family only realizing...

Life as Sandwich Fixings: Facing Care for a Parent with Dementia & a Family with ADHD

Lately, I have been a mom of few words, few articles, and little enthusiasm.  I must apologize.  I have recently joined the ranks of 44 million Americans who provide care to an adult older than 18 years of age.  I have added another job description to the power-mom label –caretaker of a parent with dementia.  Over the last several weeks, my deepest concerns have been confirmed- the bizarre and confused...