Cultured. This adjective is used to describe something that can be cultivated or made. It can also be used to describe a person who is intellectually- and artistically aware, as well as courteous and well-mannered. And, at some point this year, I came to the beautiful and humbling realization that it also describes the family that my husband and I have created. From the moment that each of our daughters were born, my husband and I have tried to raise them to be individuals who want to continually learn about, and positively impact, the world in which we live. Specifically, we want them to value and care about the people…
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Concerts Can Keep You in Tune With Your Kids
My husband and I love listening to music and have exposed our children to our favorite genres since they were very young. Because of this, their musical interests are quite varied. In fact, it would not be unusual for us to listen to urban contemporary gospel, pop, jazz, and classical music all on the same day. And, since they’ve been performing in musicals for the past four years, we also like listening to show tunes together. Our willingness to support and foster our children’s appreciation for such a significant part of American culture is one of the reasons we did something when they were only seven and four years old…
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Tricks for Easing New-School Jitters
I always become reflective when school starts back because I remember how shy and anxious and shy I felt when I was younger and a new school year was about to begin. I’d look forward to more advanced class work–and to wearing the new outfits my parents bought for me. But, I’d also spend a great deal of time worrying I’d do or say something to get the attention of the two girls that bullied me for a few years. However, since the house my parents bought right before I started high school was in a different school district, I started high school feeling like the proverbial new kid on…
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Parents’ Involvement Crucial to Teens’ Adjustment to College
When the time came for me to decide where I wanted to go for college, I didn’t know where I wanted to study. Even though I’d started my own little collection of college and university brochures, it wasn’t until the counseling staff at my high school began announcing certain college application deadlines were approaching that I actually thought about what my life after high school would look like. I asked myself questions like, “Should I go away to college or stay in Illinois?” and “Should I enroll in a large, public institution or a small, private one?” The only thing I knew for sure was that I wanted to go…
