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Practicing Calm — Holding the Chaos A Series: Part 5
Long ago, after a day that started at 7:00 in the morning and didn't end until 1:30 a.m. the next day, my daughter, Jodie, said, "Mom, it's probably a real blessing that you have the grandkids so much. It gives you lots of material for your writing." LOL We were preparing to teach a room full of sixth graders how to...
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Practicing Calm — What the Boys Taught Me – A Series: Part 4
There's an idea I keep coming back to: no problem gets solved by the same thinking that created it. We have to see things with fresh eyes. That's especially true when it comes to staying calm because staying calm doesn't happen by accident. It happens when we've thought ahead about what we'll do the next time we feel frustrated, pushed,...
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Practicing Calm — It’s Better to Laugh Than to Cry – A Series: Part 3
Story 1 This story from my family goes back decades, to when my youngest daughter, Kate, was still a teenager. The two of us were hurrying out to the car for a church event. I felt rushed. We were running late, and I hate being late. With seven children, you'd think I would have become more accepting of the occasional late...
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Practicing Calm — The Time-In – A Series: Part 2
I've been thinking about what it means to practice calm, especially in moments when other people are watching and silently judging whether you're doing it right. Here's a story that's stayed with me for years. The little boy, three years old, was out of control, a temper tantrum of sorts. I didn't know what he wanted, but I could tell he...