Pumping Schedule: Thoughts on Parental Leave and Family Support
As leaders, it is our responsibility to advocate, and inspire others to advocate, for equity as a strategic investment. Parental leave is a wise investment.
Things I Want to Tell My Kids on Graduation Day
As Heidi Oran prepares for her sons to graduate, she’s compiled a list of “Things I Want to Tell My Kids on Graduation Day.” They’re lessons we can all use.
Happy “Graduation”
While preparing for his ten year old’s third formal graduation ceremony, Justin Kanoya wonders if maybe we’re taking this whole graduation thing a bit too far.
The Need for a Culture of Belonging
Belonging is an essential human expectation. More than an expectation, belonging is community. We need to develop a culture of belonging.
Experiences: The Best Gift of All
Experiences are gifts. While experiences have tangible elements, the intangibles last longer. What lasts are the memories relived, relationships developed, and insights gained. We spend time finding the perfect gift, only to give up and buy a gift card. What people remember more is the lunch to a unique place with an engaging, full-attention conversation….
The Safe Spaces I Have, But Didn’t Know I Needed
The United States of America just wrapped up a long and tiresome election season. No matter what side you’re on, it ended with a bang. I didn’t vote for the winner. I spent the days leading up to the election praying and meditating that the person who inevitably won, wouldn’t. I was so nervous and…
Surviving Chaotic Seasons
I’m in a strange season of life right now. Four months ago we welcomed a little boy into the world and into our family. We also have a two year old toddling all around the house. Oh, and I noticed I have a few gray hairs popping up. I think that’s completely unrelated, though. Two…
The Boomerang Generation: Ground Rules for Moving Back in with Your Parents
Here are some key facts from The Pew Research Center on the “Boomerang Generation.” 48% of boomerang kids said they have paid rent to their parents. 89% say they have helped with household expenses. It is a split: About 25% say the living arrangement has been bad for their relationship with their parents while 24%…
What Are Your Numbers in Life?
We count things in life. Number of cars. Number of kids. Number of bedrooms. Number of jobs. Number in our paycheck. All numbers are not bad. They may reflect a consistency, an accomplishment, or positive years forward. For me, it is a year of numbers. My dad turned 80 years old. My mom is 75….
12 Questions I Ask Myself as a Father
There are many changes that occur when raising kids. One is when they stop calling you “daddy” and just shorten it to “dad.” In general, even this small change signals a transition as they move into pre-teen and then teen years. As a father, here are some — happens to be 12 — questions that I…
Linking to Your Father and Forward
Maybe it is a warning or a blessing, but you can see what is being carried forward in your sons and daughters. And, you may not be the one who notices, but those around you will. As Father’s Day approaches, I know there are elements of my dad in me, in both my actions and…
Returning to Normal When Things Are Abnormal
When the headline lands on your lap, how do you return to normal? When someone in your family faces unknown challenges ahead, how do you return to normal? These are the questions we are struggling with now. My brother was in an explosion which has altered his life beyond what I could ever imagine. At…