Beth
Beth is mom to a high school sophomore and a first year college student. After fourteen years as a professional writer and editor, she earned graduate degrees in counseling and play therapy. Now she exercises her creativity as a school counselor. Beth loves reading, especially mysteries.
The Next Big Step: Making the Transition to Middle School
As surprising as it may seem, your baby is getting ready for middle school. While you may still see a tiny little person when you look at your kiddo, the rest of the world...
Beyond Surviving to Thriving
I recently had the chance to attend a virtual training led by my long-time friend Sonya Richardson. Sonya is a mom and grandma, a talented therapist and brain science expert. I learn something from...
Baby Talk is Important Conversation
When I was in graduate school, I was told babies are born knowing all the sounds of all the languages in the world. Infants can learn any language they’re exposed to. Gradually, babies figure...
In Praise of Small Towns
I was born in a small town.
Like John Mellencamp, I’m happy to say that I was born in small town, the same small town where my dad was born and where my grandma was...
Why All Kids Need Diverse Books
In her April 2019 TED Talk, America Ferrera tells her listeners “presence creates possibility.” Her words resonated for me when I first heard them and they still do. Written on a post-it note in...
Winter Wonderful: Fun Things to Do in KC
Let’s be real. This winter has been different than the ones we're used to. This list of fun things to do with your family in KC during the colder months celebrates the familiar and...
Dear 2020: You Were Off to a Great Start, Then…
Dear 2020,
You should know that I’m not really a fan. I don’t think I’ll ever say “let me tell you about my favorite year…” and then jump into a humorous or heartwarming story about...
To Regift or Not?
Gift-giving holidays are right around the corner and with them comes the age-old question "Is it OK to regift?" Even etiquette experts say "yes" when you do so carefully.
You may be tempted to regift...
Learning from Experience: The Magic of the Second Pancake
We still attend Parent/Teacher Conferences even though our kids are in high school and do well academically and ask us not to go. Last spring, we were talking to one of our younger son’s teachers...
Another Thursday: Thoughts from a College Mom
Today is Thursday. It is the twelfth Thursday since I became the mom of a college student.
Twelve Thursdays ago, we moved our older son into the dorm and then headed home.
Honestly, it was a...
Talking to Your Son about Puberty
TV comedies are full of references to "The Talk," an uncomfortable, one-time discussion about the “birds and bees.” Maybe that’s even how you learned the facts of life. I remember my mom giving me...
September Brings Awareness to Suicide Prevention
September is National Suicide Prevention Month and September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day. Just reading those words breaks my mama heart. The topic is pretty terrifying, and our first instinct might be to...
My Advice? Go to Museums
In a turn of events that I find mostly surprising although altogether predictable, I’m the mom of two teenage kids. One of them, in fact, is in his last year of adolescence already. I...
Softening the Impact of Adverse Experiences
As mamas, we’d like to protect our babies from every possible adverse experience. Even though we know this is an impossible task—and if we didn’t know it before this year, we certainly know it...
The Life-Changing Magic of a Do-Over
Maybe you remember the childhood magic of the do-over. This fantastical process allowed you to try again as if the previous incident had never occurred. In my circle of friends, the do-over was widely...
