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.
I Can Do Better
In schools, there is this thing called an “I can…” statement. It’s a learning goal written in terms of what students can do when they have completed the learning unit.
It seems to me that...
Confessions of an Everyday Mom
I have a confession to make. I’m not a very good “special-day” parent. I’m more of an everyday mama. Sort of like the difference between fancy holiday china and school-night plastic plates from Ikea.
You’re...
Helping Kids Stay Motivated During Distance Learning
I’ve been a school counselor for about fifteen years, and in that time I’ve had lots of different experiences. Every one of them has enriched my understanding of the needs of kids and families....
Being a Senior Mom in 2020
There are lots of big feelings in my heart lately. Like most folks, I’m worried and anxious. I’m trying to figure out how to take good care of my family and contribute to my...
Preparing Your Child to be Ready for the Road
Prepare the child for the road, not the road for the child.
I was scrolling through Facebook the other day and these words on a friend’s page jumped out at me. Yes, I thought....
Beyond Room Parent and School Carnivals: Getting Involved in Your Teen’s School
When my kids were little, it was easy to figure out how to be involved in their learning and school life. Volunteer sign-ups and donation requests pointed me in the right direction. Parent organizations...
Silence is Golden: My Experiment with Shutting Up
Let me start with a disclaimer. The following is true. If you know me, you may be surprised—astonished really—to learn that there are things I think but don’t say. My defense is that I’ve...
Navigating Holiday Traditions
I grew up in a Christmas Day family. We waited for Santa, opened gifts, visited grandparents and shared a holiday meal, all on December 25. My husband, on the other hand, was raised in...
Offering Grace: Simple Gratitude Practices
Sometimes I wonder what my boys will be like as grown-ups. Will they be funny like their dad? Will they find work they love? Will they discover the joys of reading for pleasure? Most of...
Finding My Mom Community
I suspected that I was older than many first-time moms when I became pregnant at 35. My suspicions were confirmed when my OB referred to my situation as Advanced Maternal Age. This condition was...
I Say Yes: Leaning in to the Last Year at Home
I was standing in the parking lot of the grocery store, talking to a mom friend. I asked her how her college kid was doing. And she started to cry. He was doing well...
Teachers (And Schools) Need Love, Too!
There are a lot of really important relationships in life, from your spouse to your best girlfriends to the person who cuts your hair. Each of these relationships takes care to flourish.
Your relationship with...
