Author Archives: phyllis
Grandparents and Adult Grandkids Bonding Can Lower Depression for Both
The number of grandparents raising grandkids surged during the Great Recession. In 2011, according to a Pew Research Center report, grandparents were the main caregivers for more than 3 million children. There are still many reasons why this is necessary today – military service, untimely death, incarceration, substance abuse, mental illness or problems with layoffs and foreclosures. The second Sunday in September is always Grandparents’ Day. But every day is a good time to celebrate caring across the generations. For many of us growing up, our grandparents were the … Continue reading
We Remember 9/11
Whereas it was 12 years ago, that horrifying and heartbreaking day is still clearly etched in our collective memory. The national psyche changed forever on September 11, 2001. Today, once again, the New York anniversary ceremony took on the familiarity of ritual. There were family members reading the names of those who lost their lives, time to reflect, moments of silence. I can picture the collapsing towers and hand-held flyers with with smiling faces of loved ones. What powerful images of despair, suffering and staggering loss. But I also recall so … Continue reading
Posted in stress, well-being, your self
Tagged 9/11, family, fear, healing, heroism, memorial, New York, PTSD, ritual, stress, vulnerable
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The Dream Speech, 50 Years Later
On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. proclaimed his Dream of Jobs and Freedom from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. His speech was one of the greatest of the 20th century and, to this day, he’s celebrated for his ideals of inclusion and nonviolence. King was a public figure who inspired millions and gave his life for a noble cause. Although not a perfect person, he had many of the traits we often look for in our heroes. A sophisticated, educated orator and a leader with high emotional intelligence, he … Continue reading
Posted in parenting kids, stress, well-being
Tagged civil rights, equality, freedom, I Have a Dream, integration, jobs, Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King, nonviolence
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Childfree and Loving It
Way back when I was young, DINKs (Dual Income No Kids) were a cultural anomaly. In fact, parenthood was synonymous with adulthood. And the issues around being ‘childless’ were discussed in hushed tones. Here it is 52 years after the advent of birth control and ‘childfree’ is the new buzzword. Women who are opting out of motherhood are speaking up loud and clear. According to recent surveys, over 40% of college-educated Generation X women (born between 1965 and 1980) are childfree. These women were part of the first generation that … Continue reading
Posted in intimate partner, stress, well-being, your self
Tagged adulthood, birth control, career, child-free, childless, DINK, feminist movement, glass ceiling, motherhood, relationships
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