Orange Parents

It’s no secret that Christmas can be one of the most stressful times of the year.
And the tension is that by this point, Christmas Eve, all the ‘how to avoid stress’ tips from the I’ve-got-everything-together-why-don’t-you people  seem too little too late:

Start your shopping early. (Some of you are reading this on your phone at the… [read more]

Painting by www.hannahjoiner.com
I’m sure you have heard the news. There’s no reason to recap details or re-analyze the circumstances surrounding the events of last Friday. Over the next week, our country will be inundated with stories and images of the 20 children and 6 educators who were killed on December 14. It only took about… [read more]

by an Orange Parent
As I continue down this crazy journey called “parenting,” I keep discovering that it isn’t just about me. Case in point, this year for Christmas I wanted to come up with something neat that my eight-year old daughter and I could do together to let someone know they are loved.
But, I was… [read more]

When your kids hear “Jingle Bells” and see Santa, what’s their first thought? Getting? Or giving? We might be surprised at how fully our children and teens understand the real meaning of Christmas. While we’re sometimes perplexed by the commercialism and the “lost meaning,” kids often have an easier time connecting Christmas and all its… [read more]

As I shared in my last post, like some of you, I am a task-oriented, A-type person.
It took me a while to figure out that the habits and practices we get rewarded for in the workplace can be the very things that work against us (and our families) at home. While tasks are important, nothing… [read more]

I remember taking a personality profile for work shortly after I started into my first full-time job.
It told me what I already suspected: When it comes to working on a task or spending time with people, I’ll almost always choose the task. I actually do value relationships, but I default toward task.
That’s not a bad… [read more]

Bullying is a big deal. For kids and their parents. If you have ever been a victim or have children who are dealing with it, you know this. And it can be difficult to know what to do. What is normal in terms of kids just being kids? What is bullying? When do you take… [read more]

As my 2nd grader exited the bus he walked toward me but looked away. Without uttering a word, I knew something was wrong. Rarely does my little guy greet me at the bus stop without offering a hug. On this day there was no smile, but rather a tear rolling down one cheek. My son… [read more]

By Greg Payne
Thanksgiving just may be the ultimate team sport. Now, if you think I’m going to reference all the great football games that are going on over the holiday you’re wrong (Go Steelers).  No, I mean that all it takes is a stroll through any grocery store, and you notice the canned milk, the… [read more]