We all had a dream of what life would be like once we had our children, but few of us are living it. Reality happens and, sometimes, it is far from what we had envisioned. It doesn’t have to be that way. We can do better. Whether we have a tantruming toddler, a school-aged child not wanting to go to school, or a teenager that’s checking out more and more, there are so many resources available to us that can REALLY create the change we want to see; but WE have to seek them out, do the work, and BE the change! Read more

I wish I could say that hearing of another 8-year-old wanting to die is a rare occurrence for me. It has become so common that I must write today to implore each and every one of us to examine how anything like this is even remotely possible! And why so many of us have become habituated to it! When the mother of this child explained the degree of pressure he feels at school, though an excellent student and classroom citizen, it affirmed for me yet again to continue my effort to wake us all up to live, love, and educate a different way. Read more

I learned more in 2011 than I have in any other year. When stress is greatest, and we are not at our best because of it, we are presented with a big opportunity for change. The economy has created for many of us the loss of our livelihood, our homes, our relationships or our loved ones. Though this has called for reflection, recovery and repair, great change from these losses can come when we welcome change rather than resist it – when we allow for a new way to emerge from the ashes, and we choose to recognize the opportunity presented. The following 3 tips are how I found my power after losses in 2011 that felt beyond my control. Read more

1. FOCUS ON PRIDE NOT SHAME:

In a recent study reported in the Los Angeles Times, an important finding was made with HUGE implications for both education and parenting: When it comes to self-regulation and self-control, anticipating pride for good behavior helps us behave much better than anticipating shame for bad behavior. In fact, “the more we anticipate public humiliation and guilt, the worse we’re likely to do when it comes to self-control. If we focus on the pride that comes from good behavior, we make better choices, by far.” What we focus on matters. Neuroscientist Richard Davidson, for example, focuses not on fixing what is wrong with conditions like ADHD and Autism, but on revising our minds with life-enriching experiences. This is how we change the brain – in the desired direction! Read more

Forgive me for re-posting this link but I need to make some corrections. This “trailer” or montage was put together to market and promote my work as a provider of professional development. I am blogging the link to encourage you to forward it to any educator or mental health practitioner you know. It is likely that someone you know will know someone that would hire me for their next professional development day. And that would be so great! Thanks for your help.

Getting In The Zone

While visiting friends over the summer, I was disheartened to find that even those I most admire – smart, successful, loving people – are choosing a path for their children that leaves them all miserable. The stress in the home was palpable. After a LONG day at summer camp, even their 5-year-old was subjected to drilling of math facts at 8:30 at night. In the summer! The poor girl was squirming down her chair to try to disappear under the table, whining, and stating over and over again how much she hated this, that she didn’t want to be doing this. It was painful to watch. When I suggested to the father that this not be insisted upon at this time in this way, he actually said, “We all need to work. She has to get used to work.” “REALLY?!” I thought, “At 5?!” Read more

I just had the privilege of delivering the commencement speech to the very first graduates of the phenomenal charter school, Wildwood Environmental Academy, in Perrysburg, Ohio. I hope you will agree that its message is worth repeating here:  An American independent film maker, Woody Allen, once said: Ninety per cent of success is showing up. So to all of you, dear graduates, for showing up, today, and all the days and years of your education, congratulations on your success! You did it! And this is your reward…If 90% of success is showing up, according to Allen, the New York Times recently explained the other 10%. According to their article, the necessary ingredient for a healthy life filled with joy and a sense of well-being (how I define success), is something called, “self-compassion:” the ability to love and forgive yourself even though you are not perfect, you aren’t right all the time, you make mistakes, you even fail. Read more

There is no escaping the collapse of this economy, it seems. We are either losing our job or home, or we know and love someone else who is. Educators have received their “pink slips” as budgets continue to be slashed, and foreclosures are everywhere. I have not been immune to this terrible time in our history as I face both the final stages of losing my home as well as the least busy summer season of my career. It would be easy to succumb to the grimness of it all if I wasn’t a person who practices what she preaches! Read more

Students are not just angrier today than ever before, they are checked out, shut down, disengaged, unmotivated, and violent towards themselves and others. They go from zero (zoned out) to ten (raging) and back down to zero within a space of a few minutes multiple times throughout the day. It behooves us as educators and parents. We don’t know where the behavior comes from or what we can do about it and, because of that, our high school drop out rates are at a staggering incline, as are rates of mental health disorders and suicide in both children and adolescents. Join me online to understand who our students are today, how their brain works optimally, and how we can prevent all the challenges we face as we try to educate our youth. When faced with that shut down or angry student, learn what the most time-efficient, practical, and successful choices are that we can make. Read more