Advice for Parents by Doris Smeltzer

Much ado about a video

Robyn Hussa of Normal in Schools asked to videotape me while attending this year's BEDA conference. It felt like we filmed for an hour, although I honestly cannot say how long for sure. Recently, she sent me a whittled-down 15-minute clip of our time together.

It is so hard to know what to say

Tomorrow we celebrate Tom's birthday and honor the 13th anniversary of Andrea's death. I have a hard time believing that she has been physically gone for 13 years. It is always a bittersweet day, and one that can bring expressions of condolence, which are so very appreciated...except when they're not.

Some doctor woes

Please forgive my hiatus! The past two weeks have been crazier than usual...spent hours helping with a huge fundraiser for a dear friend, had some minor surgery (removal of three basal cell carcinomas on my legs--all is fine) and spent some time in DC at an important meeting with the Department of Labor (of which I hope to share more as things develop).