Author: Terri Shearer Trenchard

The Sound of September

Published by

The Sound of September. It’s a Danish term. For us Americans, it equates to Back to School. I like the Sound of September . . . . much better. What does the Sound of September look like to you? What does it sound like? What does it feeeeel like? Whether it is a welcoming of new routines, with open arms to cool, crisp air . . . or a reluctant, nostalgic farewell to the long, warm days of summer, the Sound of September is upon us. For those of us who are “ready,” we’ll jump right in, bright-eyed and bushy tailed. For those of us holding on to every last warm bite of summer, we’ll remind ourselves that it won’t be long ’til it rolls around again. But like all good seasons, there is a time and a place. The Sound of September. Open your ears . . . and enjoy the sounds . . . Simplify 101: Back-to-School; Tips to Get Ready for (The Sound of September).

Igniting Your Child’s Passion

Published by

My daughter found this photo for me, and asked if I wanted it for my blog. Of course, I said. My daughter. She’s 10. She’s creative. Resourceful. Thoughtful. And Electronically savvy too. She searches for “her thing” . . . . her passion. So many kids seem to have “it” at this age, in our era of starting and choosing “a sport,” “a thing,” “a passion” — at historically unprecedented young ages. Her brother (13) has found “his thing,” she says. I look back. Yeah, I remember the first time he swung a golf club, after a wee bit of introduction, at age 7. “Wow,” I watched, in almost disbelief. He was a natural. A natural golfer. He swung that club so smoothly, so effortlessly, in what appeared to be an almost perfect golf swing. But he doesn’t love golf. Sure, he plays. Once or twice a year, joining others in an enjoyable and quite respectable 18 holes. But it’s not his love, his passion. That, he reserves, for soccer. He’s a natural athlete, mind …

The Balance of Parenting

Published by

Nurture. Empower. Support. Discipline. Boundaries. This parenting thing is such a balance. Build them up; foster their self-esteem; nurture confidence, yet instill independence and responsibility. Maintain boundaries. Communicate consequences. And deliver them consistently. Sometimes it’s a tough row to hoe – and not always an easy one. Take the every-day things. We usually know, in our heads, what we should do. But doesn’t the hectic pace of all those everyday-little- things-and-activities-and-to-do’s-and-texts-and-phone calls-and-emails just get in the darn way sometimes? Sometimes I think this parenting thing would be much easier, much more effective, in a place like Walden Pond or some other inspired utopian community. Ahhhhhhh . . . . not exactly realistic. But I can imagine . . . In the meantime, I, as a loving and well-intentioned parent, perpetually try to balance the delicate acts of nurturing self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-worth in my kids, while also “preparing them to be citizens of the world.” I read, I listen to, I soak in, and I ponder a variety of “parenting” topics out there, and inevitably, …

Through a Parent’s Eyes

Published by

Have you ever been excited to share a movie you enjoyed in “childhood” with your kids? You know, watch it again. Spread the joy. Share the laughter. Reminisce. That was before PG-13. I don’t know about you, but I’ve stumbled a few times in recent years, picking some of those funny favorites to watch with my kids. “You’re gonna love this,” I say. And they do. And I whisper to my husband, “Did you remember that from this movie?” Things seem a little different when viewed through the eyes of . . . a . . . parent. From behind those “parenting goggles” some things just jump out at us (!), such as certain words . . . and content . . . that we just never even noticed before. Before we were parents, that is. Some of the ones I recently “stumbled upon” were BIG and Forrest Gump (coincidentally enough, both with Tom Hanks). Yep, some words, some humor, some scenes . . . that I just didn’t remember (without my parenting goggles on). …

SleepAway Camp: A Stepping Stone for Independence & Responsibility?

Published by

Summer. I find myself wanting to re-create my idyllic childhood summers for my children. Isn’t that human nature, parenting nature, perhaps pure Mother Nature that drives us to re-create for our children what was good in our childhoods, while also adding in what we didn’t have? I always wanted to go to summer camp, sleepaway camp to be exact. My husband too. Whether it was financial restraints, or just not on our parents’ radar, sleepaway camp wasn’t part of the summer recipe. It’s not that I’m complaining. I was blessed with the perfect childhood summers. I spent weeks at the Jersey shore, time in Pennsylvania with grandparents, aunts, uncles & cousins, all while spending my everyday summer time in my then hometown in Connecticut. Mornings were spent at swim lessons, followed by the library, and then long, hot, lazy afternoons at the pool. Capped by neighborhood nighttime fun of Kick-the-Can, Witch’s Hour, Spud . . . catching a few of the hundreds of fireflies . . . which later transformed themselves into a temporary lantern …

Vacation. Unplugged.

Published by

We turned off our electronics this week — and totally unplugged — on vacation — at the Jersey shore. We took the causeway to the Seven Mile Island of the quiet yet engaging towns of Stone Harbor and Avalon, New Jersey.  We parked the car.  And didn’t get back in all week.   We biked to the beach, we biked for ice cream, we biked for those delectable crab cakes.  We unplugged – all week – from it all. Even mom and dad.  Unplugged from the cell phone, from email, from texting. It was the best week we ever had. I don’t know about you and yours, but our kids have become sucked in (to electronics, that is).  As with anything that sucks us in, it’s a little alarming to give it up.  I say alarming because it was like an alarm went off when my husband and I said we were turning IT ALL OFF on our vacation for the week.  Wow.  What a wake up call – it was like a jolt went through their bodies.  …