“Spring is in the Air….Almost” By Jennifer Maggio

 Posted by Jennifer on February 16, 2011  General  1 Response »
Feb 162011
 

I know that we are in the midst of winter and temperatures will probably be frigid within a week, but I’m enjoying our “spring”.  This week, I have noticed that my roses have buds, the birds are chirping, and my geraniums are blooming.  We have had 70-degree weather, here in the South, and I’m loving it. 

I am not a “winter girl” AT ALL.  It is a joke with my family that I just try to “make due” until winter passes.  I go into hibernation.  So….any glimpse of Spring and I pounce it.

As the seasons change, I find myself reflecting on change — the new flowers, the warm temps, the smell of freshly cut grass.  Inevitably, I begin to think of the changes going on within my family.  My former toddler has officially become “a little girl.”  My baby boy is now a “driver”.  My baby girl is now a “teenager.”  I hope I can learn to enjoy each season and cherish each second of it.  I struggle with that, sometimes……well, much of the time! Continue reading »

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A Dad’s Point-of-View, by Bruce Sallan – Bursts of Expression

 Posted by Bruce on February 15, 2011  General  No Responses »
Feb 152011
 

Bursts of Expression

The expression, “Bursts of Expression” came from one of my readers, Margaret Light, who wrote to me after reading my column, “Does Being On Time Mean Anything Anymore?” She wrote, “If we want to foster what I call ‘bursts of expression’ (or how a kid communicates via technology) rather than conversation that actually relies on a give and take relationship, then keep nurturing cell phone use. If we want to foster a perception that the world we walk through and live in is the size of a ‘2×2’ phone monitor even while birds and butterflies pass through our lives unnoticed, please nurture technology use. If we want our kids to value making a difference in other people’s lives, foster relationships with people, not their virtual selves.”

Not only did I love her expression, “Burst of Expression,” but I also felt she articulated in very eloquent prose a significant issue that I’ve been observing in my own boys and in society at large, but especially with our younger generation with the explosion of modern technology. I’ve become even more aware of these changes, as I’ve spent the past two years, learning much of these emerging technologies, not only for my own growth but for my second career as a writer, radio show host, and more recently as the co-creator and partner in a technology oriented web-site, BoomerTechTalk.com.

How we all use these various technologies is fascinatingly different. If my own household is a microcosm and completely arbitrary mini-sample, it is nonetheless, an interesting one. The four of us comprise two generations but four distinct uses of technology. So, for the fun of it, let’s look at how my family members each uses modern technology and express ourselves in this correspondent’s term “Bursts of Expression.” Continue reading »

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“Time For Another Hopeless Holiday” by Michaela McLeod

 Posted by Bill on February 13, 2011  General  No Responses »
Feb 132011
 

My daughter Michaela is a very gifted writer. I thought today on Valentines Day I should share an article she recently did for her high school newspaper; the Arapahoe Herald. May all of you have a Valentines Day filled with love for the ones you love the most.

On Valentine’s Day, you’re likely to be walking through the hallways, practically smelling romance in the air. You can look over and see giggling girls putting teddy bears, chocolates and flowers into their lockers while hugging their boyfriends with a big “thank you!” You can look the other way and see happy couples with no presents to exchange, and yet they are as content as everyone else.

            These are situations we’ve all seen plenty of times. We’ve all grown up with Valentine’s Day once a year, and whether or not we’re in a relationship we’re aware when it comes around. Flower prices go way up and the mall is a frenzy of nervous boyfriends trying to find the perfect piece of jewelry for their significant other. These couples contribute to the clichéd holiday of Valentine’s Day. Continue reading »

I Hate Changing Light Bulbs!

 Posted by Michele on February 12, 2011  General  No Responses »
Feb 122011
 

Lets face it; single parenting is hard.  There are days when that perpetual “full plate” will break and crash to the floor in a million tiny pieces if one more thing is added to it.  Sound familiar?  It is for me and it is during those days of chaos that life feels unfair and sometimes you just need to vent or better yet bring in the troops to lend a helping hand.  Life can feel unmanageable and at least for me it helps to know that others can relate and truly understand.

I know I am spread too thin when I am searching in a panic for my cell phone only to realize I am talking on it.  That has happened to me more than once and it is a brutal but comedic wake-up call that I need to slow down and shall we say “smell the roses”.  I love roses but in all honesty it is rare that I find the time to truly “smell the roses” on any given day despite the fact that I am a true believer in embracing every moment along the way.  It is hard and as a single parent it is a challenge to manage all there is to do in a day.

In speaking to other single parents I know that I am in good company.  Just last week I was talking with another single mom and we were both feeling overwhelmed.  We chatted about having to do everything from paying the bills, getting groceries, cleaning the house, doing the laundry, getting the oil changed, shoveling the driveway, running all those miscellaneous errands, helping with the homework, cooking dinner, taking the Christmas tree down, tending to sick kids when you yourself are sick, working and to changing the light bulbs.  I hate changing light bulbs!  In fact, as I write this my house is on dim because so many light bulbs need to be changed. Continue reading »

Kudos To You

 Posted by Kelly on February 12, 2011  General  No Responses »
Feb 122011
 

It was a normal day

Crazy morning

Kids to school

Early calls

10:00 a.m. – time for weekly sales planning call.

I dial in and hear others join.

We are missing one. Continue reading »

Excuses Be Gone

 Posted by Lisa on February 11, 2011  General  No Responses »
Feb 112011
 

Wayne Dyer’s Excuses Be Gone talk was on PBS last weekend in my area. I caught the end of it as I was straightening up the house. I had to sit down and listen for a bit. I watched it once before and there are so many good little nuggets of information and motivation in there. I want to get the audiobook at the library.

If you have a chance you should check it out. Quite a few clips are available on youtube and the books and audiobooks should be at your local library. Dyer cuts right through the thick of things when he asks: 

If there were no excuses, and no fear, what would you do, how would you feel? Continue reading »

My Epiphany ~ I’m a Single Parent

 Posted by Davis on February 10, 2011  General  No Responses »
Feb 102011
 

I will be leaving for the airport at 4:30 a.m. in the morning. I have been running around trying to get as much done as possible before I leave. I want to make sure as much as possible is done before I go. I want the laundry done, house put in as much order as possible, the girls’ schedules are all put together for their dad (2 in sports and 1 grounded). Between working, picking kids up, self maintenance, meetings, packing, letting my mind go over all the things I need to get done for my 10 day working vacation while making dinner it happened…I had the strangest epiphany.

I’m a single parent.

Your response to that might be…is Davis off her rocker? Short answer – NO! The long answer is probably how many single parents come to feel – we are just parents. The truth is I don’t feel like a single parent. I really never have. I’ve been a single parent for many years and I have great team members for the most part. Even when I say it out loud, “Single Parent” it just doesn’t feel like an appropriate description. Continue reading »

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