Category Archives: Parenting

A Bad Day at the “Office”

Posted on August 1, 2012 by russtowne

When our 21 year-old daughter came home from her park ranger intern job last night she looked physically and emotionally drained, and I became concerned. She came up and hugged me for a long time. I haven’t had a, “I … Continue reading →

Posted in Challenges, Parenting, True Stories I've Written | Tagged accident, capable, confident, daughter, emergency services, first responder, girl, heliicopter, hospital, hug, hugged, intern, little girl, mentor, park ranger, proud, spinal injuries | 27 Comments

Dogs on Rainy Days Too!

Posted on July 16, 2012 by russtowne

I saw the quip below and wanted to share it with you! It is funny and true. — Cleaning with kids in the house is like brushing your teeth while eating Oreos! — The same thing is true about trying … Continue reading →

Posted in Dogs & Other Wonderful Creatures, Family "Fun", Humor, Parenting | Tagged cleaning, dogs, house, kids, muddy, Oreos, rainy | 2 Comments

Treasure Hunt!

Posted on July 9, 2012 by russtowne

I collect coins that are in my pockets at the end of each day, and eventually count and roll them. When our children were fairly young, I’d keep the pennies in a big brass antique-looking container that looked like a … Continue reading →

Posted in Abundance, Creativity, Family "Fun", Parenting, True Stories I've Written | Tagged beloved, booty, children, clues, goblet, kids, pennies, treausre hunt | 13 Comments

A Rite of Passage

Posted on July 8, 2012 by russtowne

Beloved spent many of her formative years on a farm and knew what it was like to work hard. I chopped firewood for my grandparents who needed a lot of it as it was the only source of heat for … Continue reading →

Posted in Family "Fun", Growth/Learning, LIfe Lessons, Parenting, True Stories I've Written | Tagged beloved, big grin, Dog, hard work, knowing, lawns, mower, physical, physically, pride, proud, push mower, rite of passage, smile, son, sons | 6 Comments

Under 1 Roof: 12 Kids, 2 Women, and 1 Very Patient Man

Posted on July 8, 2012 by russtowne

When I was in my early- to mid-teens a maternal aunt and her 7 children moved in with our family of 7 into a 4 bedroom/2 bathroom house. They were from the east coast and none of the kids from … Continue reading →

Posted in Abundance, Family "Fun", Parenting, True Stories I've Written | Tagged 12 kids, aunt, children, dad, man, mom, Mother, patient, roof, twelve kids, women, worked together | 5 Comments

Clasped Hands

Posted on July 6, 2012 by russtowne

On a shelf near my desk are a couple of chunks of Paper Mache that I value more than if they were made of solid gold or chiseled by a master sculptor our of the finest marble. They were made … Continue reading →

Posted in Family "Fun", Gratitude, Love, Parenting, True Stories I've Written | Tagged arm wrestle, bond, brother, brothers, clasp, clasped, dad, father, Fathers, finest marble, FSB, Gold, grieve, hands, heal, Love, marble, pain, plnet, Relationship, respect, son, sons | 13 Comments

Get Your Stories Straight!

Posted on July 5, 2012 by russtowne

Like nearly all siblings, our sons sometimes got into quarrels. When that occurred, Beloved and I attempted to unravel how it started so we could create learning lessons as well as determine fair and appropriate consequences for their actions. Not … Continue reading →

Posted in Choices, Creativity, Family "Fun", Humor, Parenting, True Stories I've Written | Tagged beloved, boys, consquences, fun, funny, humorous, learning lessons, lessons, light, sons, stories, worked tother, working together | 2 Comments

Prom Nightmare

Posted on July 2, 2012 by russtowne

Our Oldest Son had a very “memorable” Prom Night. “Memorable“ as in, “Is this terrible night ever going to end?” It had started well enough. Although he had a vehicle of his own, I’d offered to lend to him my … Continue reading →

Posted in Compassion, Family "Fun", Parenting, True Stories I've Written | Tagged car, dad, Date, father, material things, nightmare, parents, Prom, Prom Night, son | 6 Comments

Send In the Cavalry!

Posted on June 30, 2012 by russtowne

As our children got into their mid to-later-teen years, they and their friends used to “hang out” a lot at our house, and usually in our living room. It probably had a lot to do with the fact that My … Continue reading →

Posted in Abundance, Humor, Parenting, True Stories I've Written | Tagged adults, bugler, cavalry, dinner, food, Friend, friends, good, good cook, good kids, leftovers, living, living room, Love, movie, movies, parents, safe, teenagers, welcome | 17 Comments

Don’t Smile!

Posted on June 30, 2012 by russtowne

My Beloved and I found that one of the hardest things about disciplining our young children was staying serous when scolding them—especially when every instinct in our bodies and minds wanted to smile or burst out laughing. For example, call … Continue reading →