Deconstructing Gratitude for Our Children. by Michele Ranard, M.Ed. 850 words Are you happier now that you are a parent? A couple years ago, Florida State University sociology professor Robin Simon created a stir with her suggestion that “bundle of joy” is perhaps inaccurate for most parents. “Parents experience lower levels of emotional well-being, less frequent positive emotions and more frequent negative emotions...
Decoding their slang and culture. by Michele Ranard, M.Ed. 680 words I live with teenagers. The other morning at breakfast, my 15-year old son mentioned sorrowfully that he may have “tossed a fork.” Because I have grown so very accustomed to feeling clueless for what my kids and their friends are talking about (“Dude, that song is way sicker with that stupid hotness...