There’s a popular parenting trend to avoid telling your kids what not to do. Rather than saying “Jasper, don’t hit your baby sister,” you could say “Jasper, please use kind hands.” In my experience, in both cases, Ruthie usually gets a love tap from her brother. There’s truth to nearly all parenting advice, but for … Continued

On my lengthy, 300-yard commute to work this morning I took a moment in the misty, much needed rain, to take in the view. All along the driveway the green of our temperate rainforest is peppered with flashes of pink and purple, thanks to our many wildflowers, mountain laurel, and mostly Rhododendron. Rhododendrons are near … Continued