CarolB | Heart of the Matter

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Mean Adults

When you have a highly distractible, pinging-off-the-walls kind of kid, or even ADHD, it probably doesn’t surprise you that other kids can sometimes be a bit mean. But what do you do when the prickly offender is an adult? Say maybe. . . a Sunday School teacher? a clerk in the store? a grandparent? Then what do you...

Put Norman Rockwell Away

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It’s time for the holidays—whoo hoo! Are you excited? Full of anticipation? Or quietly terrified. For the typical family, holidays are simply a great change of routine. These folks actually look forward to the many things that will be different during this season – a vacation from the standard – a step away from the...

Why Does My Child Hate to Write?

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You stand there in delighted amazement at the words coming out of the mouth of your son. “…and the bat colony had gathered an army led by a stout but kindly bat named Grommetus. He had trained them for almost a year to be ready for their inevitable battle with the evil, bullying barn owls…” The imagination of...

The Myth of Equal Time

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Once again I stood over my son, working with him for hours on a task that would have taken a mere 20 minutes for any of my other children. And once again, my daughter dutifully picked up her books, completed her work all on her own, and basically took care of herself. With a sideways glance, I saw her quietly withdrawing...

Betty Ford Called

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“I called the Betty Ford Clinic! They still have an opening. Heh heh heh.” My husband is so pleased with himself and his running joke. “Yeah, honey…you’re terribly funny. You got me again.” One of my husband’s favorite chuckles is to poke fun at my addiction. No, I don’t have an alcohol or drug problem....

Why Do I Hate Socks?

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Why do I hate socks so much? Is it because each sock in a pair has opposite magnetic poles making it violently repel its match, running from its mate, hiding out heavens only knows where, daring me to come and find it, and forcing it next to its mate with a violent twist-roll-and-heave motion? Is it because I’ve...

Homeschooling’s Dirty Little Secret

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Things had gotten bad in our support group. The battle lines had been drawn. Two of our homeschooling membership had gotten into a competition of sorts. They came to each meeting with scripture on their lips and a quiet smile plastered on their faces, but there was a squint-eyed gleam in their eyes. And it was getting...

Should We Get A Label?

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There was a time when my answer was clear and firm. I used to say… sure, go ahead and test. Getting a label takes the pressure off the child who’s been thinking he’s defective. A label gives you a reason for all the clear challenges that have been a part of his life. It removes personal blame. It’s freeing. It’s...

Help for the Child Who Can’t Stop Talking

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There’s a conversation you should have with your chatty child–not so much, if they’re the dreamy, mind-just-sort-of-wanders type of child. But rather, with the child who talks a mile a minute about each and every thing that pops into their heads (which is constantly full of such pops) and is absolutely compelled to...