"This is MY hair. It's great that you love it. I love it too. But please, just look and don't touch without my permission." ~~ Aria, in Sharee Miller's Don't Touch My Hair! (A version of this article first appeared in Kingston Neighbours magazine, February, 2021.) Ah, Valentine’s Day: roses and romance, cards and candlelight,... Continue Reading →
Let’s Talk About Mental Health: Resources for Youth
70% of mental health problems have their onset during childhood or adolescence.Young people aged 15 to 24 are more likely to experience mental illness and/or substance use disorders than any other age group.In 2016, suicide accounted for 19% of deaths among youth aged 10 to 14, 29% among youth aged 15 to 19, and 23%... Continue Reading →
Parenting Books, Wine Mom Memes, Unrelenting Standards and You: Parenting in the 21st Century
"When I'm upset or hurting, the last think I want to hear is advice, philosophy, psychology, or the other fellow's point of view. That kind of talk makes me only feel worse than before. Pity leaves me feeling pitiful; questions put me on the defensive; and most infuriating of all is to hear that I... Continue Reading →
Lisa’s Book List #2: Books To Build STEM Skills
“Your brilliant first flop was a raging success! Come on, let's get busy and on to the next!" She handed a notebook to Rosie Revere, who smiled at her aunt as it all became clear. Life might have its failures, but this was not it. The only true failure can come if you quit.”~~ Andrea... Continue Reading →
Be an Anti-Virus Hero!
"Some people wear masks,in public you might see.It’s to stop the virus,from jumping to you and me. When the virus is about,listen to what the doctors say.They might say to social distance,to keep the virus away." ~~ Vicki Schofield, Anti-Virus Heroes We are living in extraordinary times. COVID-19 has utterly disrupted every aspect of our... Continue Reading →
7 Tips To Help Reluctant Readers
"If we teach a child to read but fail to develop a desire to read, we will have created a skilled non-reader, a literate illiterate. And no high test score will ever undo that damage.” ~Kylene Beers, Literacy Specialist (First published in Kingston Neighbours magazines, September 2020) Back-to-school time is finally here. And while many... Continue Reading →
Lisa’s Book List #1: Books to Help Your Children Thrive at a New School
"You have to figure out how to feel at home, how to fit in, and how to be yourself. You may feel out of place, or uncertain sometimes. There's a chance you may also be curious -- and even a little excited -- about what's ahead. You're not the only person to deal with these... Continue Reading →
Big Feelings, Little Strategies that Work
"We have a part in our brain that is like an alarm called the amygdala. It goes off by itself when we feel worried or scared. It helps protect us." ~ Big Feelings Come and Go storybook for children Let's talk about big feelings. Fear. Worry. Anger. Anxiety. How do you cope with them? How... Continue Reading →
Theories of Evolution, Ways of Being
“It’s okay not to want to get married ... It’s okay not to want romantic partners at all. It’s okay to want romance without sex, or sex without romance. And it’s okay to want neither ... And when I say okay, I mean good. There are so many good ways to be in this world.”... Continue Reading →
