Trust and Caution: Striking a Balance
September 5, 2008
When I was a child, milk came in bottles. There was always a certain fear of breaking one, but the milkman was a great friend to the neighborhood kids. When it was really hot, he sometimes gave us chunks of ice to suck on. Today, during breakfast, children look at milk cartons that carry pictures of missing children. Some offer preventative measures for avoiding the national epidemic of missing children.
Love That Shouldn't Be Alike
September 5, 2008
"I love you all the same!" my mother used to say when one of us hinted at the preferential treatment of a sibling.
Now, my mother was an only child, so maybe she believed this. But having grown up with four siblings and having had four children of my own, I know better. For one thing, some of us are just easier to get along with than others. We may not be sure why this is, but if we are honest, we admit that it's true.
Coaching the Kids Through Summer
September 5, 2008
"School's Out\Drive Carefully," the bumper sticker cautions us. "Don't forget the Sun Block," the American Cancer Society warns; that well-loved fun in the sun can be hazardous to you health. Public service announcements remind us of the dangers of drinking and driving, or drinking and swimming, on those long holiday weekends.
But what about the children? Accidents are the leading cause of death among children five to thirteen years of age. The accident rate is highest during the summer vacation months. Some of these fatalities could be avoided.