Author: Terri Shearer Trenchard

Making It a Great Summer (by guest blogger, Deneitra Hutchinson)

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I recently participated in a fantastic Twitter chat hosted by children’s author Terri Trenchard and life & wellness coach Trisha Chason. Everyone participating had one goal in mind: making this a productive and positive summer for the entire family. Here, in my opinion, is the best of that conversation. Be sure to add your favorite summer tips in the comment section below. With the end of the school year, comes summer break. Will summer be like a Country Time lemonade commercial or a time of planned activities — or both? As parents, our youthful days of summer have long passed. We played all day with friends and family. We spent the day in the woods, exploring. When we stayed home, we read until our heads hurt. We made-up games, rode bikes, and visited each other’s homes. But what about our children? What do they want? CHALLENGE 1: Ask your child to describe a healthy, summer day. Do they want regular “chill” activities or do they want BIG, ELABORATE plans? How much is enough…one weekday, and one …

Who Loves Summer?

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I do.  Absolutely.  Best time of the year.  That’s why . . . well . . . my blog’s just a little light these summer days.  I like it the good ‘ole fashioned way:  lemonade stands, long days at the pool, late bedtimes cuz the fireflies are still out, hopscotch followed by vanilla custard and chocolate jimmies.  Not to mention the beach.  Pure grace.  The waves come in, the waves go out.  And no one, not a one, is ever the same.  Pure grace. Sand castles, riding the waves, drip castles.  Gotta love those sand buckets, filled with water, making the highest drip castle ever.  Bike rides, the smell of sunscreen, the scent of bug spray.  Even the occasional mosquito bug itch.  And the smell of summer grass, freshly clipped, in the heat of the summer night.  So forgive me if I’m not bloggin’ . . . but I’m on a little hiatus, with the kids, the sand, the sidewalk chalk, the summer sun.  Like every year, it sifts right through our hands. Catch it …

The End of The Everything Season

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It’s like a second holiday season, this end-of-the-school-and-dance-and-soccer-and-drama-and-band-and-did-I-mention-everything-else season.  There are gifts to buy, multiple performances to attend, graduation cards to mail, checks to write, side dishes to take, oh and by the way, who’s dropping off for try-outs tonight.  We’re already gearing up for next season, you know.  It’s ALL GOOD, but it IS BUSY.  Don’t kid yourself.  Like a second holiday season.  Without the stoppage for the holiday.  Oh yeah, there is a stoppage.  A rather big one.  Called Summer.   I almost forgot . . . as my buzzer goes off . . . and I grab the gift . . . and sign the (where is that card?)  Oh, here.  Under the camp schedule. Ah, the camp schedule.  Now that sounds and feels nice.  The holiday is coming.  I can feel it.  Can’t I? It’s coming, alright.  Keep Calm.  Carry On.  Eat Chocolate.  Whatever It Takes.  And for some ideas on how to make it a great summer, join us.  June 11, 12-1 (EDT).  Twitter.  Stay Tuned.

“Kind is Cool” . . . The Warmth of the Human Spirit

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Amidst the troubles of the world, isn’t it refreshing to witness true warmth within the human spirit? It happened to me, this weekend. With a stranger. On an airplane. I was sitting there, about to take off, as the friendly, white-haired grandpa next to me asked me the reason for my visit. My precious little baby cousin, with Angelman Syndrome, I said. I went on to say how my daughter, my cousins, and my sister travelled to Dallas for the weekend to see, support – and walk – for our little 18 month old cousin, diagnosed with the rare disease (affecting only 1 in 15,000 children) of Angelman Syndrome, a neuro-genetic disease which leaves many children with the inability to walk or talk. Research for a cure is underway. And we walked to fund it. As the man in the seat next door continued to listen, I felt moved to share some tidbits about our little “angel,” a beautiful, happy, blue-eyed, blonde-curled little girl with a contagious smile and effervescent laugh. That stranger sitting next …

Summer . . . Siblings . . . & Rivalry??

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As much as I adore summer, it is inevitably always a transition in our house. As we joyfully, yet abruptly, cease our hectic routines, we suddenly find ourselves in each other’s space, with no pressing agenda at hand, and lots of good ‘ole summer down time. This is all great — until I realize it is pure breeding ground for: Sibling Rivalry. We all know that sometimes our kids will do just about anything to get our attention. Any attention — positive or negative — is often better than no attention, when kids want it. Our kids know that clobbering Little Sissie Sue is a no-no, but guess what, it sure gets them Mom’s attention! And what about the nit-picking – doing everything they can to each other – just to get “a rise” out of that sibling? As we welcome the joys of summer, along with its down time and together time, here are a few things I’m going to keep in mind, while enjoying the days of summer . . . siblings . …

So We Chatted About Chores and Shared Some Great Ideas

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How do your kids help around the house and how do you hold them to it? Do they complain? Do they get paid or are they simply expected to help out because they are part of the family? In our Twitter chat today, we shared experiences, commiserated, and shed some light on new ideas. Some parents pay their kids for chores – at the end of the week, according to how many they’ve done. Some kids earn “tech” money (time for electronics) at week’s end, upon the completion of chores. Other parents simply expect the kids to do the chores — because they live in the house. Those kids may also receive an allowance – separate from the chores – merely as a money management learning tool. Lots of ways, lots of options. It just depends what works for each of us, and our families. How do we get these kids do their chores? Reminders, certainly, reminders. Reminders for these distracted teens. One mom writes down the chores on a dry-erase board as the kids …