Category: family
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Nature vs. Nintendo, Treehouses, and a New Project
I’m a firm believer in outdoor time over screen time. I think many of our kids today suffer from NDD – Nature Deficit Disorder (a term coined by author Richard Louv). Those who know me well also know that I’m an avid environmentalist — and that I fully embrace the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle principle.…
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Fanfare for an uncommon man
The night my Pop died, I knew it would be his last. I’d been working late, writing something for a client, when it suddenly hit me. I clocked out and started writing his eulogy instead. For the next several hours I wrote, revised, and rewrote, then went to bed, exhausted. I woke at 4:50 a.m.…
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On life, presence, the speed of childhood and the perils of rushing
Last night I had some rare one-on-one time with my oldest, who will be 9 in what seems like a heartbeat. As I tucked him in, he asked me to sing him a song – something he hasn’t asked for in a while. I was feeling frustrated, tired, irritable, and just wanted him to go…
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As the holidays near, think about the children
The holidays are right around the corner, and although they can bring us 15032661_577502992448994_4985953123727292112_n Split Decision: Holiday Help for Blended Families great joy, they can also bring sadness and stress – especially if a family has been split by divorce. With that in mind, I volunteered for this story, Split Decision, in our latest issue…
Patrick F. O'Donnell 