Whenever I visit the library, I check the display of new books. Recently The Hidden Child by Louise Fein caught my eye. This historical novel, set in the 1920s, tells a story that connects the eugenics movement and the plight of a child with epilepsy. (Eugenics is a theory that…
-
-
The Art of Disagreeing
When my daughter was in grade school, she had a class that involved critical thinking. She was encouraged to think through problems. When controversies occur, we need this kind of skill. As a parent I have tried set an example of working through the issues our family has faced. It…
-
A Little Return to Normalcy
My husband and I will attend a football game at the high school tonight. Each marching band member is permitted two guests at the game. Our grandson and granddaughter will be playing trumpet and flute. It is a bit of a return to normal. The past year has been hard…
-
The First Weeks with a Newborn Infant: 10 Recommendations
Childbirth can be exhausting. There are ways to prepare for this time period and ways to reduce stress during the first few weeks after giving birth. In the final weeks of pregnancy stock up on basic household needs and staple items (like we have been doing through the pandemic). During…
-
Beginning in Detroit
There is benefit in having fresh perspectives. I want to be a life-long learner, seeking truth. Many years ago, I started my nursing career at a Detroit hospital. I worked in the labor/delivery unit, learning the medical aspects of childbearing. When I was expecting my first baby, I was introduced…
-
Breathing Patterns for Birth . . . and Soccer?
Last Saturday I spent a lovely afternoon watching my grandson play soccer. It brought back memories of the time my son played soccer and I was an accidental coach. Years ago I wrote a story about that experience. When I first told my family that I was a soccer coach…
-
Detroit, the Family and Reflections on Racism
My first job as a graduate nurse was in a hospital in downtown Detroit. I worked in a labor/delivery unit with a diverse group of patients. Some women had taken Lamaze classes and some were unwed teenagers. We had a pregnant woman, victim of a gunshot, who was partially paralyzed.…
-
Nine Tips for a Young Woman
As a mom, grandmother and nurse What advice would I give to a young woman? Learn about life practices that support your health: nutrition, exercise, rest. Pay attention to the rhythm of your body, because your cycles give insight into your health. Don’t share your body intimately with a young…
-
Medical Freedom for Families
Over the past couple of years I have tracked legislation occurring across our country with regard to childhood vaccinations. Because one of my children developed fibromyalgia after a vaccine I am sensitive to this issue. In 1986 the federal government passed a bill, the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act, that…
-
What Do We Tell the Children?
Yesterday I spent the afternoon with my grandchildren. I was happy to join the family for dinner. As we were eating dinner the second grader said, “We might be having world war three.” “Why do you say that?” I asked. “A boy in my class said that.” The granddaughter who…