Children's Series: 5 to 7 Year Shift

One of the most poignant things that I learned during my graduate work earning a masters degree in early childhood development was that when children prepare to move to the next stage of development, they have periods – often intense – of regression. Our daughter, a/k/a Suddenly Seven has had a slight (ok, not so… Continue reading Children's Series: 5 to 7 Year Shift

Children's Series: Approach-Approach Conflict

Have you ever been in a situation in which you can’t decide between two desirable (or even really awesome) things? For example: chocolate or vanilla? Or decisions of a more impactful nature such as: do I take an incredible job (one I’ve always wanted) or stay home to raise my child full time (what I’ve… Continue reading Children's Series: Approach-Approach Conflict

Why Princess Leia is a Silver Lining

  Halloween is a ginormous deal in our family. Sweetly Six eagerly awaits this day for what seems like years (every year!). We usually don’t commit to a costume until about 72 hours before the big day because typically Sweetly Six cannot finalize her decision. This year, however, is an altogether different year. For months she has known… Continue reading Why Princess Leia is a Silver Lining

Children's Series: Coping with Back to School Jitters

Happy Monday! Today, I am super honored and excited to introduce you to Dr. Deborah Roth Ledley, a psychologist at the Children’s Center for OCD and Anxiety and founder of TheCalmMom.com. We met at a dinner recently and I was fascinated by her and her work. She has generously agreed to share some of her pearls of wisdom… Continue reading Children's Series: Coping with Back to School Jitters

Children's Series: Talking with Children About Miscarriage

Today at lunch a girlfriend told me about me a really yucky story, one that involves having to tell her daughter (who happens to be Sweetly Six’s bestie) about a friend’s miscarriage. She asked me how she should tell her daughter. Because anywhere from 10-25% of all clinically recognized pregnancies will end in miscarriage, I thought… Continue reading Children's Series: Talking with Children About Miscarriage

Children's Series #1: Helping Children Cope With a Disaster

This week I have some new goodies (that I am giddy about!) planned for The Silver Pen. The first is a new series on topics related to children. Using my master’s degree in Child Development, I thought that I’d put a little bit of my knowledge  (& library) to work!  Hope that it is a Silver… Continue reading Children's Series #1: Helping Children Cope With a Disaster

Change

Today is Sweetly Six’s first day of First Grade. I can’t even believe that I just wrote that!  Holy Moly. Geez Louise. The HOTY (Husband Of The Year for new readers) and I are so incredibly blessed with a happy, healthy and well adjusted daughter. She weathered all of the changes that came with my… Continue reading Change