In my previous job working with families with children under the age of three, parents talked a lot about growth charts. "My child is in the X percentile for height and the X percentile for weight. What does this mean? Should I be concerned?" Of course, the first thing that we did was direct the...
Stroll through any store this time of year and you're bound to see the color red, valentine hearts, and love. Hearts are all around us in every shade of pink and red. This February, I'd like to encourage you to show a little love to your heart. The American Heart Association recognizes...
If you are in the habit of reading this blog, you know that I have written several times about the topic of caregiving. Having worked with older adults and their caregivers in my former career "life" and continuing to provide programs for them, I feel that they are some of the most selfless, noble...
Earlier this month, there was a news item on TV about a local family whose daughter was suffering from lead poisoning. She had a lead blood level 9x higher that what is recommended as acceptable by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The national news stories last year about Flint,...
Elements of Self-Care As part of our community wellness effort, I am reprinting a blog post on self-care with permission from a colleague. Michele Crawford, is a Communit
'Tis the season to make resolutions. What's on your list this year? According to Statistic Brain, among the top 10 resolutions made for 2016 were losing weight, getting organized, spending less/saving more, quitting...
Have you ever known someone who seemed to go through very difficult times and left you wondering "how can they handle so much?" Resiliency is the ability to recover from life's challenges and hardships without being overwhelmed and to bounce forward rather than back. Families and individuals face...
The gifts, the wrapping, the parties…oh my! Seemingly endless holiday demands can put additional stress on our time and resources. For most people, the holiday season is the busiest time of year with extra of everything – social demands, work projects, family obligations, and holiday to-do lists. I...
Despite the title, I am not going to talk about the latest video game or Monster High doll! According to authors Jo Robinson and Jean Coppock-Staeheli in their book Unplug the Christmas Machine, as early as the age of four or five kids can lose the ability to be delighted by the...
Recently I came across an article in one of the local papers titled "No support behind brain games." I have to say that my first instinct was one of panic. I currently facilitate monthly Wits Fitness brain exercise classes in four different locations and many others by request. What will my class...
