Author Archives: Myra Turner

Conduct Unbecoming

Tyler has always excelled in his school work. So far he’s brought home nothing but A’s and I couldn’t be more pleased. The school he currently attends is a private Catholic school and their grading system is somewhat different from the public school grading system I’m familiar with. For instance, in order to get an A, you have to make 97. As I said, I am extremely satisfied with his academic performance. His conduct on the other hand, “needs improvement.” He started out fine but over the past two weeks his behavior has not been stellar. Each day his teacher … Continue reading →

Me and Scooby Doo

A funny thing happened Sunday while I was alone. Tyler was with his father watching the football games and I was sitting in the hotel reading the newspaper and flipping the channels trying to find something half-way interesting to watch on TV. At one point I flipped to Scooby Doo and for a split second I thought about stopping but then I hurried on. When I didn’t find anything, I made the rounds again and when I came to the channel that had Scooby Doo on, once again I was tempted to stop and watch. But somehow I felt that … Continue reading →

Why Do Little Boys Run?

Because that’s what little boys do. I have had at least a dozen well-meaning men tell me this. You see, Tyler runs all of the time. It’s like he’s training for the New York marathon or some similar race. This often leaves me frustrated and asking, “Why are you running!” If any member of the male species is in earshot they always answer my question with the same answer, “Because that’s what little boys do.” As a child I was a tom boy and I liked running and climbing and jumping as much as the next fellow but I did … Continue reading →

Aging Parents and Holiday Stress: Create Moments of Joy

Taking care of aging parents during the holiday season can add to your daily stress. Between shopping, decorating, meal planning and partying, you can get overwhelmed when you also have to add taking care of mom or dad to the mix. But elder care expert Ester Koch believes caregivers can use the holiday season to bring joy to their lives instead. She recommends that caregivers create “moments of joy” by changing their focus from all the things they do for their parents to the joyful experiences they can create for and share with them. She advises caregivers to “Become a … Continue reading →

Problematic Gaming

If your kids play a lot of shoot-em-up video games, you may wonder if they will eventually have problems differentiating fantasy from reality. Tyler has a Star Wars games that he loves. I sometimes play it too but it does contain a lot of shooting action. I don’t allow him to play with toy guns, so this is the only time he’s able to “shoot” anyone. I try to steer him toward learning games and games that don’t include shooting or hurting anyone. And there are plenty of good games out there. We have a Pac Man game also and … Continue reading →

Sleep- It Does a Body Good

I was thinking about how much I really needed a nap when I ran across an article in USA Today where researchers are cautioning us that once we lose too much sleep day after day, our ability to catch up on our sleep may also be lost. As busy parents most of us don’t get 8 hours of sleep. How can we with so much on our plate? There’s always something that has to be done around the house. We’re either finishing up one day or preparing for the next day. Not to mention some parents stay up late so … Continue reading →

The Fruit of Our Parenting Labor

Do you sometimes wonder if your kids are learning the life lessons you are trying to teach them? If you believe what some experts say, you won’t see the fruit of your labor for years to come. While that might be true in some respects, in many ways if you continuously set a good example your kids will imitate you. One complement I get often is that Tyler is well-mannered. His behavior is a case of learning by example. For instance, I always say “Thank you,” to anyone who does anything for me. As a result he does the same … Continue reading →

Mama Knows Best?

As parents, especially parents of young kids, we have a tendency to think that we know what’s best for our kids. If we are cold, we figure they have to be cold also and we dress them accordingly. The reverse is true. If we’re hot they can’t possibly be cold. I have this one nagging habit that I know Tyler probably hates. Sometimes, when we go out to eat I will veto his food choices because I feel confident that he won’t eat it. Yesterday for instance, it was his birthday and he and his father and I went out … Continue reading →

Better Safe Than Sorry

Staying in hotel alone with a young child presents several unique problems. For instance, whenever I need to go anywhere I have to take Tyler with me. If I need ice, or need to run to the snack machine or even downstairs to my car, he has to come with me. Or does he? He put this question to me last week when I needed to run to my car. He was involved in one of his TV programs and didn’t want to leave (or put his shoes on for that matter) to slog downstairs with me. “I’ll be okay,” … Continue reading →

Daily Dose of Laughter

Maybe I’m just old but I really don’t get half the programs on Cartoon Network. But apparently kids do. As I sit listening to the rain pound against my hotel window (we’re under a tornado watch!) Tyler is absorbed in that silly program about the Grim Reaper. Bill and Mandy or something like that. Anyway, he’s been watching TV all day since the weather is too bad to leave the hotel and he’s totally enjoying the silly jokes and shenanigans being displayed. Periodically I have glanced at the screen to see if I can get a handle on what’s going … Continue reading →