A video of Wendy McDonnell at the Toastmasters Guelph Area International Speech Contest, Spring 2011. The following is a transcript of the speech, copyright 2011. Thanks goes out to Wendy’s son Malcolm who recorded the event when he was nine years old. Musician Pete Seeger once said, “Education is what you get when [...] Read more...
A Hard Ride Home – Conversations with my seven year old daughter
Here’s a typical day in my family. E is my seven year old daughter. This day, three of my kids were scheduled to attend swimming lessons. The oldest was staying home to experience solitude, something of a rare occurence in our busy homeschooling family of six. This day, I witnessed my mental gymnastics as I [...] Read more...
What do you do when your child screams no?
MOM of 2 kids writes: My 3 year old daughter screams “no” a lot at her brother, at other children, and at us. Did any of your children do this? Is there anything you “did” or do you have a suggestion on how to give her the words she needs or is this a phase [...] Read more...
Love is the best discipline
“The heart has such an influence over the understanding that it is worth while to engage it in our interest.” Lord Chesterfield Today, my 5 year-old son’s balloon is probably the single most important thing in the world to him. Today, my son’s balloon broke. A year ago, if his balloon had popped, he’d likely [...] Read more...
What do you see?
When I’m ambiguous, my kids don’t follow me. When I am more mindful, heartful, purposeful, they follow with little effort. This is useful feedback. I posted this on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn this morning when I saw this in my family again. I began to feel frustrated, unsettled, longing for cooperation and forward movement when [...] Read more...
Relationships 101
I’ve had the very fortunate experience of being in a healthy long-term relationship with my husband for twenty-four years. I’m deeply devoted to him and our four children. In the early years, we would stay up late some nights sharing what we envisioned for each other and ourselves, especially when we disagreed. I asked him [...] Read more...
The things that children make
Sarah Mangle, the host of “These Things That People Make”, interviews twelve adults about the crafts they made when they were children on January 20th, 2011. I love this show and want to share it with you. Drawings, popsicle stick houses, and edible finger paintings are just a few of the examples folks share in [...] Read more...
Make sibling rivalry simpler
Most of the time when sisters and brothers are at each other’s throats, I don’t have a clue what each of them wants and needs. I often get drawn or called to the scene too late to know. In addition, I really want my involvement to be really boring. I don’t want to add fuel [...] Read more...
Connect with us