My 11 year old son, Blair, wanted to go to Cirque du Soleil this year, but because our schedules were so busy, we missed it. Instead he went to the Balloon Boy media circus. Because my husband was traveling and I was a single mom over the weekend I didn’t want to leave him at home while I was working 24/7 for NBC News. Instead … Continue reading Blair and the Balloon Boy
This very well written article is by a senior named Scott Martin at Cherry Creek High School in Englewood, Colorado. In his guest commentary for the Denver Post he sums up the intense competition and pressures of youth sports and all the things adults do to take the fun out of it. As the mother of an athlete I think he hits the ball out … Continue reading Youth Sports: Enough Already
My son, Kyle, was born with a bump on his head and it terrified me. As a first time mom I was certain he would become gravely ill and I would not be able to hang on to him. Perhaps it was the postpartum imbalance of hormones but I found myself crying in the shower. Then and there I surrendered. I conceded I could not do … Continue reading The Faith Club Part 2
Blessings to Iranian human rights lawyer and Nobel Prize winner, Shirin Ebadi, who has courageously offered to represent the family of Neda, the young woman shot by snipers during a protest on the streets of Tehran. Perhaps she will also represent the parents of Kaveh Alipour who were told they must pay the Iranian government a $3000 bullet fee to retrieve their slain son’s body. I am gratified … Continue reading Fighting for Neda
When I produced the daily talk show, Kaleidoscope, at KAKE TV in Wichita, Kansas, I learned you could discuss just about any issue but abortion. It was too polarizing. People would talk until they were blue in the face, raise their voices and get angry but neither side would budge from their position. No matter how compelling the arguments for or against, those who were pro-life and pro-choice just dug their heels in … Continue reading Wrong Answer to Abortion
The plight of homeless children was the focus of two articles in the 5/18 edition of USA Today. One is about 11 year old Zach Bonner who is walking from Atlanta, Georgia to Washington, D.C. to raise money and awareness for homeless youngsters. He hopes to meet with President Obama when he arrives in July. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-05-17-wagon-boy_N.htm?csp=34 The other is by CBS anchor, Katie Couric, who … Continue reading Homeless Children
Malcolm Gladwell, author of “The Tipping Point,” “Outliers” and “Blink” has an article out this month in The New Yorker. It’s called “How David Beats Goliath” and with his deft storytelling and character development Gladwell makes the case for effort over ability. He tells about Vivek Ranadive and his basketball team of 12 year old girls in Redwood City, California. To overcome a lack of talent they … Continue reading How David Beats Goliath
For parents struggling to communicate with their teenage children I recommend… drum roll please… American Idol (http://www.americanidol.com.) Like many parents I am often at a loss about how to have a meaningful conversation with my 15 year old son, Kyle. He loves sports and is a promising athlete himself so he and his father never run out of things to discuss. Patching up an argument is easy … Continue reading American Idol and the High School Male
Today as we were driving in my car I was talking to my 11 year old son, Blair, about the various and sundry things that were stressing me out. He listened then told me to be patient. All of his solutions to my issues were so simple and sensible. At one point, after we passed through the toll booth, he started to scribble with a pen on his … Continue reading Therapy
I love Passover. The Jewish holiday is meaningful, joyous and delicious. I look forward all year long to the celebration around the table with friends and family. What’s not to love about a dinner that lasts all evening and ends with the poignant words “next year in Jerusalem.” It is always a memorable night. So imagine my surprise when I saw the advertisement in the … Continue reading 30 Minute Seder
Vicky Collins Online 