Nurturing a Free-Spirited Child

On this Mother’s Day, I reflect on what is in many ways the hardest job in the world: raising a child. This day, Mother’s Day, honors that effort, for it is mothers that often have the most impact on a child’s future and they unfortunately many times have to do it alone. Next is teachers. …

Becoming Role Models

Above: The boys of the 2014 5000 Role Models clue at WJ Bryan Elementary take the pledge not to do drugs, carry firearms or wear their pants below the waist. Our boys are in trouble these days, especially so if they come from poor homes, especially if their skin is dark, even a little. Too …

How I Learned to Love Cooking

Above: Jars of colorful spices [image source] I love to cook. I love it so much that not only do I cook nearly every day, but it actually causes me discomfort to eat food I didn’t prepare. Crazy I know. I read about cooking, I watch videos and I write as much as I can. …

Un-Mother’s Day

This past Sunday was Mother’s Day, the day we all try to remember to thank our mothers for all they have done for us and mothers, if we are lucky, get one day off. This Mother’s Day started off with ex surprising me with a cake. Then we all went out for breakfast. Throughout the …

The Disney Antidote

Walt Disney cartoons and comics was a part of my childhood. My father had dreamed of being an animator for Disney in the 1940’s but never made it. Instead, he passed on his love of Disney but by the 1950’s, the rich, time-intensive cell animation gave way to simpler styes and the stories became sugar …