How To Live Well
I am pleased to reprint the beginning of my guest post, published today on Alex Blackwell’s inspiring blog, The BridgeMaker. “The art of living well and dying well are one.” Epicurus Living in awareness of our mortality guides us in living life to its fullest. It serves as a compass- pointing us in the right direction, […]
Walking – Heart Work
Walking may have been instrumental in saving my daughter, Nava’s, life. Being on a ventilator for almost 3 months, the doctors were surprised that her heart remained strong. Despite the fact that her medical crisis began with a severely suppressed immune system whereby she became the statistic who developed a life-threatening secondary infection, a part […]
Coping, Au Natural
“Let me write out a prescription for something to help you get through the next few months. If she survives, it’s going to be a long haul.” This was said by one of the ICU doctor’s when my middle daughter, Nava, had a medical crisis that landed her in a drug-induced coma and on a […]
Having a Purpose
“He who has a ‘why’ to live, can bear with almost any ‘how’.” Nietzsche I had a very difficult decision to make midway during the year my daughter was critically ill. Do I go back to work now that she’s out of the acute critical stage of life and death, and in rehab, or do […]
Creating Good Times for the Sibling
I have 3 grown children. My middle daughter, Nava, has disabilities. Years ago when my kids were young, my schedule was greatly based around Nava’s after-school appointments. She had the speech therapist for stuttering, the gym for physical therapy, numerous doctor appointments, socialization groups at the Y, swimming at the Y, among others. The reality […]
My Daughter, My Teacher
My daughter, Nava, has been my role model, mentor and teacher in helping me cope with her toughest and scariest times in her life. She was the person to whom it was all happening while I as her mother stood by watching, contorted in my own emotional pain, but having to bring forth the strength […]
The Vision of Inclusion
Welcome to my second interview. Dan Habib is a photojournalist who has produced a documentary film, Including Samuel, which portrays the Habib family’s efforts to include their son, Samuel, in all aspects of their lives. Samuel has cerebral palsy. Mr. Habib speaks candidly and openly about what it’s like for him and his family to parent […]
Allowing Our Kids To Feel
As parents we naturally want to protect our children. We want to take away their hurts and make them feel better. It’s our parental instincts to want to make it all better. When it comes to feelings, we can’t always do that, nor is it best to; to try to whisk away their bad feelings […]
Divorce – How to Help Your Child Adjust, or Not
My husband and I have each been through a divorce. Our children are from our first marriages. I had what could be called a “good” divorce, while my husband ended up with a textbook case of horrific parental alienation syndrome, where he “lost” his daughter. We, as parents, can help or hinder our child’s […]
Stretching Yourself and Creating Smiles
I am pleased to reprint the first few paragraphs from my piece that was published on Lori Deschene’s fabulous website/blog, called Tiny Buddha. “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” Neale Walsh Have you ever thought about doing something way out there-and then done it? I became intrigued with Patch Adams and his philosophy of medicine and […]