The Awakened Family: A Revolution in Parenting by Shefali Tsabary, PhD. Viking, 338 pages. One could say Dr. Shefali Tsabary is onto something. The New York clinical psychologist got the attention and respect of Oprah Winfrey with her first book, 2010’s The Conscious Parent, which Winfrey (not a parent, for the record) describes as “one […]
Ann Farrar
Posted inSpecial Issues
Summer shows
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee appears at The Hoogland Center for the Arts May 20-22 and May 27-29. Central Illinois is the place to be for family-friendly summer shows. New Salem’s Theatre in the Park The Dixie Swim Club June 3-5, 9-11. A comedy about a reunion of five lifelong female friends who […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Raising kids with grit
Jeff Bridges as Rooster Cogburn, a man of True Grit. If grit still makes you think of sandpaper or southern breakfasts, you haven’t been paying attention. In the past few years, grit has become an important buzzword in the study of children’s development and education. As my now 4-year-old daughter was learning how to dress […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Networking for people who hate networking
If we’ve heard it once, we’ve heard it a million times: networking is essential for any job search. More essential than the perfect resume, more essential than hours spent poring over listings, perhaps even more essential than brushing your teeth before an interview. Perhaps not. But to an introvert, someone who values in-depth conversations and […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Resume tips for workforce reentry
When you are attempting to reenter the workforce after an extended absence, it can be daunting to submit your resume with pride and confidence. You need not be deceptive about your work history though. Just highlight your strengths and capacities and de-emphasize the gaps. Or accentuate the positive and explain the negative. Though there are […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
The best children’s books of 2015
Ah, bedtime. Where parents read and reread old favorite books and rejoice when new classics are found. If you’re looking for a respite from Goodnight Moon and Golden Books starring Disney and Pixar characters, we’ve got you covered. We’ve consulted both national critics and Springfield-area librarians – all have recommendations to expand and enrich story […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
What’s love got to do with it?
PHOTO FROM METROCREATIVECONNECTION.COM Premarital counseling is something that can sometimes fall by the wayside in the excitement of planning a wedding. It certainly can seem like a bummer compared to the thrill of dress shopping and planning the reception of the century. But it doesn’t have to be. Having meaningful conversations about your shared future […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Children in groups make better decisions
PHOTO metrocreativeconnection.com A new University of Illinois study has found that practice working on group projects might help children become better decision makers. In the study, published in the American Educational Research Journal, collaborative work was compared with direct instruction to measure how well students could make reasoned decisions and apply their skills in a […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Do the work, sleep will come
You’re lying in your nice cozy bed at night, covered in flannel and down, surrounded by quiet and darkness, a spouse snoring contentedly by your side and somehow still sleep won’t come. The digital clock stares you down – a confrontation with red numbers the diurnal world doesn’t usually see: 2, 3, 4 AM. What […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Volunteering is good for you
PHOTO FROM METROCREATIVECONNECTION.COM Though many people characterize volunteer work as a way to give back to their community, research shows volunteering actually gives seniors vitality and a positive outlook in their last decades of life. Adjusting to retirement and a general downshift in responsibility and connection to others can be unexpectedly stressful. Volunteering provides multiple […]
Posted inOpinion
Helping someone out of the darkness
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention will hold an Out of the Darkness Walk this Saturday afternoon at Southwind Park. Last-minute walkers may register in person at 1 p.m. at Hope Pavilion. More information can be found at afsp.donordrive.com. After the recent Democratic candidate debate, CNN fact-checked Hilary Clinton’s assertion that “we lose 90 people […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
What’s new in the kitchen?
Island with marble countertop. ALL PHOTOS COURTESY BURASKI BUILDERS Frank Buraski of Buraski Builders, who has been in the business of renovations and construction for 34 years, finds that kitchen trends are cyclical. He notes with interest that people are becoming more concerned with function than in past years. The trend toward commercial-looking kitchens exemplifies […]
