Sheila

I had a front-row seat in the foster care system when my mom became a foster parent after my father died. Taking on the role of a foster parent fulfilled a personal void for her, gave her the opportunity to encourage children in need, and also allowed her to supplement her income. Pros and Cons […]

As far back as I can remember, kids played hide-and-seek! One player closes his or her eyes for a brief period (often counting to 100), while the other players hide. The seeker then opens their eyes and tries to find the hiders. The first player “found” is the next seeker, and the last player “found” is

When you’re not lost—when you’re safe—it’s harder to understand the urgency of needing to be found, needing to be rescued. – Christine Caine, Undaunted There is hidden pain behind some unassuming kids, and identifying it can be difficult. Sometimes the issue is hidden in plain sight.  Reponses like— I said nothing’s wrong! I’m fine. I’m

It’s amazing how one event can impact a person’s life. When my dad was a young boy, his mother dropped him off to spend the night at his uncle’s house. She never returned.  That event severely scarred my dad–so much so that he never wanted us to spend the night away from home. He wanted

When I was a little girl, I often wondered about hungry people. I had heard about them. My mom told me,” People are starving all over the world.” Where were they? What were they doing? During my sophomore year in college, I moved off-campus—in an attempt to save money. I would not have to pay

Are you present in your child’s life, but really absent? Are there ways you share space with your child, but lack the ability to connect with them? I have a cousin in Los Angeles who says, “It’s hard out here in these streets!” Well, cuz, I’d say it’s hard out here–in these homes, too. Our

“I’m bored!” Those were two words my brother and I learned not to say at our house when we were kids. The first time I said it, my mom told me to read a book. The second time–which was the last time–I was handed a dust cloth! I was taught if I couldn’t find something

My dad was named after his old Uncle Charlie. Uncle Charlie seemed so OLD to me. During the summer, when we traveled from Minnesota down to Arkansas to visit old Uncle Charlie, my brother and I learned many life lessons. The town was small, and the roads seemed run down, but Uncle Charlie’s heart was

Are you old enough to remember these shows? If you are–well–that means you’re seasoned!  I have been amazed by how many syndicated shows kids watch! The images presented to us through the media has changed. The choices and values today do not align with what many of us believe to be considered respectable. Sad to say,

Pong was the first video game, introduced in the late ’70s. From there, the video game industry has exploded, creating entertaining games for kids. However, this comes at a cost when children sink into playing games all day long. Psychologists claim prolonged exposure to video games rewire kids’ brains, creating an addiction. What many consider a harmless hobby can turn