Inspiration comes in waves and twice this week two local residents contacted me out of the blue to tell me their adoption stories.I do not want to violate their privacy so best not to share their details, but I have learned over the years each adoption journey is unique, and a common theme is how… Read more »

First days of school provide opportunities every year to take stock of family life.In my household, a lot has changed in one year.At this time last year, Pam and I were adjusting to a new world with our Beckett, 15, attending boarding school in Virginia. It was an uncomfortable feeling and there was truly a… Read more »

Gone evidently are the days when there is excitement in the house about heading back to school.Some examples: Last weekend, I asked Beckett, 15, if he was looking forward to school. The conversation is easy to remember because it was short with minimal engagement. Me: So, are you ready to go back to school?Him: No.Me:… Read more »

There are many special events held in Ocean City each year, but the most meaningful to me is Surfers Healing. Surfers Healing is a traveling surf camp that offers children and teens with disabilities opportunities to go surfing with buddies. A message on the organization’s website reads, “Yet even though we had 6000+ participants at… Read more »

(The following is an open letter from 2016 to everyone involved with Surfers Healing in Ocean City. The writer is on vacation this week for this event.) Thank you just doesn’t seem like enough. It’s been a day since we left the beach and I’m still having a difficult time describing the emotions from the… Read more »

Is it micromanaging to scrutinize your teen’s friends?Over the years, Beckett, 15, has opined we “grill” new friends when they come around. He maintains we may scare them off, calling us over the top compared to other parents. He might be right, but I am at peace with it. The right friend group is critical.I… Read more »

Becoming a father to a special needs kid changed me forever.This was part of a recent conversation I had with one of my best friends. A true friend is someone who you may not see or talk with often, but time does not matter. Meaningful friendships sustain through all these long periods of not spending… Read more »

A guilty pleasure of mine continues to be reading the website, raisingteenstoday.com. This fun little nugget popped up this week.It was a listing, titled Things No One Tells You About Raising Teenagers. You’ll go broke paying for groceries, braces, car insurance and new cell phones That your teen’s favorite responses will be, “I’ll do it… Read more »

That was a big deal.My thought as I drove off from Worcester Technical School Monday morning. I may have even said it aloud to myself.After hearing great things about it, Pam researched over the last couple months the county’s STATT Camp Program (Skilled Trades, Agriculture, Tourism and Technology Program) at Worcester Tech for Carson, 13…. Read more »

(Editor’s Note: The following column was a reprint from this week 10 years ago.)Watching sports with my kids is always an entertaining experience.Beckett, 5, actually gets quite excited watching sports with me. It’s just on a limited basis because his attention often turns to something else a little more fast paced, such as moving a… Read more »