In answering your questions, it's also made me more aware of my own parenting.  Even if no one knew what I was doing in my own home, I felt uncomfortable dishing out advice if I wasn't willing to take it!   One of the things I've reiterated is that charity begins at home - you can't do it all, nor should you, though I can understand how over the years, you add more and more layers to your life, many of which are wonderful, but then find that you can hardly make your way back to your bedrock. In keeping with that sentiment, I've decided to take my advice and pare down my obligations so that I can devote more time and energy to both my family an d my team at the New York Kids Club. For that reason, this will be my last Practical Parenting newsletter.

 

This has been a delightful, and unexpected, opportunity for me to be in touch with parents more directly, and I've come to truly appreciate the diverse make-up of families.  I've also become even more aware that we're all parents, we're all in this together, and we'll continue our journey doing our very best. 

My daughter, Jessica, is in Maine and she called last week to say that on her last test, she had to identify 100 different bird calls!  She couldn't remember ever really hearing birds in New York City, but now, she's become more mindful of the sights and sounds that surround her. Call me a proud mother, but I felt gratified that this important value - to be appreciative of the greater world, which we've always tried to instill in our children - seems to have taken hold.  As your children get older, there will be more and more moments in which it will be apparent that the lessons have sunk in.  Trust that every deposit you make in your children's lives is accumulating and will pay off.  While I will always love my children, it's nice to see that they're becoming people I admire and respect. 

Finally, I am deeply appreciative to the Brooklyn Eagle for affording me this opportunity to communicate so directly with such a broad base of people.  Having recently opened the New York Kids Club in Brooklyn, it's been a pleasure to get to know this vibrant section of New York City. 

Please feel free to continue to e-mail me, and if you see me on the street and recognize me, come say hello!