Month: February 2001

For years, my mother told my 5 feet 10-inch youngest brother, "Just wait, you’ll grow." All through his high school years as he tried, in vain, to stretch those last couple inches to our Dad’s 6-feet, she promised him he would grow some more. All through his years at the community college with our 6-feet…

Looking at the collection of toys I’ve collected the last few years reveals a truth about myself, I hate to even admit. I’ve entered my second childhood. First, it was plush stuffed animals. I said I wanted miniature bears to decorate the Christmas tree. So with children long past the age of stuffed toys, who…

I finally have the house of my dreams. It’s perfect: Soft off-white walls, light tan, cushioned carpeting in the bedrooms, pristine oatmeal colored ceramic tiles in the heavy-wear areas and lustrous parquet flooring warms the living room atmosphere. The house will remain perfect – as long as no one eats, cooks or drinks anywhere near…

Raising confident, independent children begins the first time we hold our breath as we let go of their hands and they take those first, tentative steps alone. Recently, I watched as my 2-year-old grandson played with a new, simple wooden tray puzzle with me and his sister. They dumped out the puzzle, then grabbed pieces…