By May 2019, my husband and I had saved enough to take our three boys to Italy to visit his sister and extended family. His parents were born and raised just south of Rome, and the opportunity to explore their roots while making new memories felt lik...

I often picture the five SEL competencies—self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making—as individual continuums. Throughout the day, I mentally check in with myself: Where am I right now on e...

In a past newsletter, I mentioned that I am the mom of three teenage boys. 

My oldest son turned 20 in October of 2021. He is a sophomore in college now - a deeply thoughtful man who takes his time to process factors before making decisions. He love...

I've been actively practicing deep listening for the past several years to better understand another's perspective. I say "deep listening" because when the topic is related to a core value or a previous "hurt," my initial response is to feel an emoti...

I’ve worn glasses since the third grade. That means I’ve sat in an optometrist’s chair dozens of times, answering the familiar question:
“Which lens is clearer—1 or 2? 2 or 3?”

Each time, I’m amazed by how much sharper things can become—even when I ...