Social and emotional development
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Handshakes As Positive Discipline
A father with two little girls approached me at a school picnic. He explained that his daughters were new students, and that the older one, Maria, was a bit worried about starting a new school. “Say hello to Dr. Nollet,” he said to Maria. Maria stepped forward and stuck out her hand. “Hi, Dr. Nollet,” she Continue reading
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School Dress Code Wars
Back to school and new beginnings feel exciting, except for one thing—the dress code wars! I wonder if parents know how much time teachers and administrators invest in enforcing these rules. We want our children to dress safely and “appropriately,” a word that has different meanings for many. I hold two perspectives. When principal of a K-8 Continue reading
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Military Family Stories
Veterans of World War II rarely speak of their service. In the case of my father, humility is part of the reason. “Everybody did it,” he shrugged, referring to his peers in the 1940s. He is one of a handful of remaining WWII veterans in his town. Read his story, published this week in the Continue reading
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Wandering Adventure in a Bookstore
Wandering around a local bookstore is a travel adventure to me. Naturally, that was part of my plan when my daughters and I visited a friend in Provincetown. My 7-year old went one way. My 4-year old whined in agony. “Mom, I’m not like everybody else in the family.” She threw herself on the floor. Continue reading
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The Art of Wandering
On a weekend trip to Québec City, we visited sites recommended by a travel book— Montmorency Falls, the Basilica of Sainte Anne de Beaupré, the farmer’s market, art galleries and cafés, all lovely and worth experiencing. Sometimes, though, an itinerary needs to breathe. My husband and I set off one evening to roam the cobblestone Continue reading
Write Away 