October is Selective Mutism Awareness Month

Selective mutism is a rare disorder, a communication disability, affecting less than 1% of kids.

6 Benefits of Freewriting

Freewriting is a simple writing practice that helps prime the writer for creativity and inspiration among other benefits

Making Friends with My Grief

A conversation with my daughter about the grandfather she never met helped us both heal.

A Fresh Start for the New Year: Are You Ready to Turn the Page on 2020?

the year is almost over. It’s time for a new year. A new page. We will still have the same problems once the bell tolls us into 2021, but we can stop, take a breath, hit reset, and then tackle the new year with a plan. Let’s take a moment to reevaluate, to consider what’s working, what’s not, and look at our challenges with new eyes to find new solutions.

Living with Dying: Thoughts on friendship and cancer

I get by with a little help from my friends

How to Juggle Cancer and Parenting: Karey Gauthier’s Story

How to Juggle Cancer and Parenting: Karey Gauthier’s Story

Cancer is a medical diagnosis, not an identity. It colors who you are just as any major experience would, be it pregnancy, pets, kids, diabetes, etc. However, it does not define you or your future.

For loved ones, give offers of help, but be specific. Patients don’t have the capacity to figure out what would be helpful most of the time. If you plan to do something in honor of the person, ask first if they are comfortable with that. I had a family member walk in my honor twice and make a big deal about it and want me there. I felt like a prize pig on display and it felt awful.

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How to Juggle Cancer and Parenting: Kathy Stokes’ Story

How to Juggle Cancer and Parenting: Kathy Stokes’ Story

I’m divorced but asked my ex to be there to tell the kids. That was a big support mechanism in the sense of “we’re fighting this as a family.” Humor works really well with my kids. It opens them up. Eg, at dinner, daughter asks, “Dad, can I have another chicken breast?” shortly after my surgery. Then she turned to me and said, “Sorry, mom.” And I said, “That’s ok. I’ll have two!” Laughter all around.

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Respect the School Zone

Respect the School Zone

I’ll admit to being annoyed by the 20-mile per hour speed limit in school zones… in the past. Funny how things change now that I have a 5-year-old walking to school every day. And now, every day, I give those fast drivers a mama bear glare.

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