Advice for Parents

A message to our First Lady

The following letter is one I sent to our First Lady a few days ago:

Dear First Lady,

I must tell you how thrilled I am with the leadership you and President Obama offer our nation ... I have not felt such confidence in a Presidency in a very long time and I thank you for the important role you are playing in healing our country.

Although I have no idea if this letter will ever actually reach you, my compulsion to write it cannot be ignored.

A dad who "only wants to help"

My husband often leaves newspaper articles he thinks may be of interest to me on the dining room table. I rarely read the paper and so always appreciate this thoughtful gesture. This morning I found a copy of Carolyn Hax's syndicated advice column with the title "Daughter keeps gaining weight." I know I've quoted Hax in previous postings, but her insights and depth of knowledge are so often blog-space-worthy!

When our mind is hijacked

Last weekend was an emotional roller coaster for me. We were with my husband's family for the wedding of his father (my mother-in-law died two years ago). It was a very happy occasion and not the main reason for the feelings I experienced. There were two other events that contributed to my heart's up and down ride.

Can we all just get along?

I belong to a number of different list serves: ASDAH (Association for Size Diversity and Health); Intuitive Eating Professionals and The Academy for Eating Disorders to name just a few. Because of the emails that abound among these groups I am exposed to up-to-the-minute news on nearly everything having to do with weight. 

A valuable new book

At long last I had a chance to catch up with the pile of "good books to read" that lives on the corner of my desk. It is rare that I have the opportunity to read for pleasure so it was thrilling to make my way through three books last weekend!

New Year's resolutions--no more!

Beginning in third grade and continuing into my mid-thirties, every New Year began with a resolution to lose weight. The fact that every diet I'd ever tried eventually led to failure, with the lost weight always returning, did not register on my "this is ridiculous" radar screen. Each year I would lose those hated pounds and each year, as predictable as the sunrise, I would regain the weight and then some.

Wishing you the happiest of holidays

We'll be leaving soon for our daughter's ... we're celebrating Christmas a few days early to avoid attempting to grab some private time during the big gathering on the 26th.  Before leaving, I was

The significance of the dragonfly

In last week's blog, I shared how I'd decorated the first tree we've had since Andrea's death with the assortment of dragonfly pins and earrings friends have so kindly given to me over the years. I continue to wear all of these but it has been sweet to give them up for a few weeks in order to enjoy them in this way. Above is a photo of our little tree.

Reflections on the holidays

This holiday season is somehow different. It has been ten and a half years since Andrea's death (I know I've said this before, but how is that possible??) Honestly, I believed that I would not be here to see a tenth Christmas, a tenth New Year. The thought of being able to survive the holidays without Andrea was inconceivable. And yet, we have.

Happy Holidays!

Many eating disorder (ED) web sites and ED blogs contain discussions and tips on how to survive the holidays. I was recently asked to write a brief "tip" for local high school PE Teachers to send home with their students. I share it with you here: