No More Distraction

Distraction is inevitable....to some extent. Ours is a fast-paced world that prizes productivity and multitasking, so finding ourselves distracted at times from the task at hand is unavoidable.

Except when it comes to our kids, that is.

You see, the kind of distraction I'm talking about is the technology-induced, smart phone-related kind. It's the temptation we all seem to have (yes, myself included) to check our Facebook account or e-mail or text messages with an often ridiculous frequency. Let's face it, there's probably nothing new from your last check-in a minute ago.

And, more importantly, while you're reading notifications and status updates and junk e-mail messages, your kids are there, waiting for your undivided attention.

Do they get it?

Other than for picture taking, we really don't need phones at the beach...

My Shadow Days Are Over Now

I'm a good man, with a good heart,

had a tough time, got a rough start,

But I finally learned to let it go,

Now I'm right here, and I'm right now, 

And I'm open, knowing somehow

That my shadow days are over,

My shadow days are over now.

--John Mayer, "Shadow Days"

This is sort of an epilogue to my two recent posts entitled "Are We Really Born This Way?" If you missed them, please check them out here (Part 1) and here (Part 2).

First, I want to thank everyone who commented on the blog and on Facebook for your support and your kind, loving words. That affirmation means the world to me.

Photo of the Week: Inspiration

Good morning!  Well, I hope it's good for you - I know some of you out there are under the weather (as I am), or perhaps tired and frustrated by the outcome of the Super Bowl.

So today, I'm publishing our weekly photo, and it's not really a photo as much as it is a message. I found this on the Facebook page of a blog I enjoy, The Joyful Mother, and I thought it would be useful to start the week here on MLWP with an encouraging thought.  This is something I'm always working on - but it's hard.

Hope your week gets off to a fabulous start!

Where's the Accountability?!

I'm so upset today, I hardly know where to begin.  Read this article, and you'll know why.

What's especially sad is that this isn't the first, second, or even tenth such article I've read.  What I want to know is this:

How many kids will we have to lose to the bullying epidemic before progress is made?  Before kids stop seeing suicide as the best way to escape the torment?  What will it take?

Where is the accountability?

Jamey Rodemeyer

What's Love Got to Do With It?

Yesterday, we described an article about parenting skills prioritized by researchers. It listed, in order of importance, the ten “parenting competencies” that are most important to the development of healthy, happy children and strong parent-child relationships. This week, I’ll be discussing each of them in more detail and asking for your opinions as well.

It’s no surprise that love and affection top the list here. Surely everyone knows that showing that we care is important right? Well….maybe not so much. Or, even if we do understand that, sometimes we fall short in that department.