Category: Parenting

“Those Shoes,” a Book Review: When A Shoe Is So Much More Than Just A Shoe

Black-high tops with two white stripes—imagine them being the heart’s desire for a little boy. He wants them more than anything else in the world. All the other kids in his class have the extravagant shoes; Jeremy dreams of getting his own pair—of being cool. He gets “Those Shoes” but they don’t fit. Jeremy comes to understand the true value of things. A friend means so much more than a pair of trendy shoes.

Read Post »
07/15/2014

Feelings: Naming, Sharing, and Recognizing Emotions

Kids are challenged not only by mislabeling their emotions but also by an inability to read the body language cues of others. Whether it is an adult’s raised eyebrow or another child’s hands on hips, often times kids are completely clueless to the silent message such body postures convey. So, what is a parent to do?

Read Post »
07/11/2014

Sharing Wishes Opens a Window to a Child’s Heart

“Wish: Wishing Traditions around the World” is one of these books that expands a child’s view of the world. And, as adults ask children to share their personal wishes, a wonderful window opens—the child reveals the secret yearnings of their hearts’ dreams. Wish offers an opportunity for some intimate and honest sharing—the kind of connection families want to nurture and cherish. The exquisitely detailed multi-ledia illustrations are a wonderful metaphor for the complexities of a family; each element contributes to the beauty of the whole.

Read Post »
07/02/2014

Harmonizing the Notes of Diversity

Books offer an excellent way to connect, to create community, to promote healing and to educate. As an adoptive parent and an adoption coach, I especially appreciate books that help to improve the lives of adoptive families. +Alex Baugh recently

Read Post »
03/24/2014