Category Archives: Children

Hallway Torture

Posted on January 22, 2013 by russtowne

(This is a re-post for newer readers.) One of the toughest challenges we had as parents was regarding discipline. We wanted to be firm but loving and fair and for the consequences to be effective, age-appropriate, and child-specific. Unfortunately, it … Continue reading →

Posted in Challenges, Children, Creativity, Discipline & Consequences, Fairness, Parenting, True Stories I've Written, Youth | Tagged child, children, consequences, discipline, fair, fairness, hallway, parenting, torture | 2 Comments

The Touch

Posted on January 20, 2013 by russtowne

When our children were young we were fortunate to have the option of being able to have a parent stay at home to raise our children while the other worked outside the home. My Beloved chose to focus her many … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Dogs & Other Wonderful Creatures, True Stories I've Written | Tagged boys, families, glass, gorilla, gorillas, mom, palm, San Francisco, San Francisco Zoo, silverback, touch, window, zoo | 8 Comments

Family Nights

Posted on January 18, 2013 by russtowne

This is a repost that has been updated for newer friends. Family Nights Picture if you will all the noise and people during rush hour in Grand Central Station, the commotion and energy of a busy dog park, the love … Continue reading →

Posted in Abundance, Children, Family "Fun", Grandparenting & Grandkids, Love, Parenting, True Stories I've Written | Tagged cjildren, dogs, Family, grandparent, grandparenting, Grandparents, kids, Love, parenting, United Nations | 19 Comments

Don’t Smile!

Posted on January 16, 2013 by russtowne

(A re-post with minor revisions for my friends who are newer to this blog.) My Beloved and I found that one of the hardest things about disciplining our young children was staying serious when scolding them—especially when every instinct in … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Humor, Parenting, True Stories I've Written | Tagged children, discipline, friends, kids, rules, smile, smiling, son, woe | 13 Comments

Where Troubles Melt Like Lemon Drops

Posted on January 16, 2013 by russtowne

The link below is to a group of children from Newtown’s Sandy Hook Elementary School singing “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”. Stunningly beautiful heartfelt innocence. May their hearts heal as quickly as their voices and faces have melted mine. http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/children-record-song-benefit-newtown-conn-causes-131022810–abc-news-topstories.html Russ

Posted in Adversity, Beauty, Children, Dealing with Pain & Grief, Healing, Vids & Stories That Touched Me | Tagged ABC, ABC News, children singing, Newtown, Sandy Hook Elementary, School, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, United Way | 6 Comments

Braces

Posted on January 13, 2013 by russtowne

(A repost for newer readers to this site.) Sometimes it is really tough to be a kid. When both of our boys needed braces we knew they were in for a rough time. In those days braces tended to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Challenges, Children, Parenting, True Stories I've Written | Tagged boys, braces, children, parenting, parents, self-esteem, sons, teeth | 20 Comments

How a Daunting Gauntlet Became a Fun Zone

Posted on January 1, 2013 by russtowne

(This is a re-post with minor revisions.) Some years ago I was standing in a long, long line at a major theme park in southern California. I was bored, hot, and tired. I stuck a hand in my pocket and … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Family "Fun", True Stories I've Written | Tagged bored, children, coins, daunting gauntlet, entertaining, fun, hot, long lines, My Beloved, parents, quarter, Southern California, theme park, tired | 6 Comments

Dying Boy Closer to World Record

Posted on December 28, 2012 by russtowne

Dalton Dingus knows that the world really does care. That’s something that many adults in the world have yet to learn. Dalton is a little boy who is dying, but has his heart set on breaking a Guinness world record … Continue reading →

Posted in Abundance, Adversity, Challenges, Children, Goodness, Inspiring, Joy & Happiness, Kindness, Stories That Touched Me | Tagged Christmas cards, Dalton Dingus, Guiness, Kentucky, world record | 7 Comments

“So Many Caring People In this World”

Posted on December 17, 2012 by russtowne

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of ‘disaster,’ … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Heroes, Kindness, Love, Making the World a Better Place, Quotes I Love, Stories That Touched Me | Tagged 9/11, Caring, children, children. childrens', compassion, curiosity, episodes, fears, Fred Rogers, Friend, friends, Friendship, gentle, helper, helpers, Heroes, kind, kndness, Love, Mr. Rogers', Relationship, September 11, show, television, TV | 12 Comments

The Goofiest Christmas Tree and Beach You Ever Saw

Posted on December 5, 2012 by russtowne

A Most Unusual Christmas Tree Visitors who come to our home near the holidays are often struck by the sight of a most unusual Christmas tree. Instead of a fir or some other traditional kind, we have a palm tree. … Continue reading →