I asked Siri a question. I am not sure why since even my kids believe Siri hates me. She doesn’t seem to know what I am asking her and even when she says she understands me her answer doesn’t make sense. Here is an example: I wanted to chunk my phone across the room. As a mom, sometimes I feel like this when I am talking to my children. I may say, “Go clean your room.” Yet somehow they hear, “Go play with your toys.” But often our miscommunications are of the deeper sort. I want to be available …
Communication: the power of a text
I’ve never written a message to my kids on a cave wall. They wouldn’t look there, because communication changes. When my kids were little, one of their favorite ways to practice spelling was painting in shaving cream. Now kids click and drag on iPads and use apps to reinforce language development. Shaving cream is still a great way to practice, but if we want to be heard, “flexible” and “learner” have to be our middle names when it comes to communication. The digital age has thrust moms and grandmas onto a fast track for adaptation in communicating with our …
When Mom’s Words Hurt
Six words. Only six words, but they flew out of my mouth to the heart of my son before I could capture them and lock them away where the sun doesn’t shine. I was immediately sorry and saw the look of injury on his face. I wanted to take the words back, but they escaped, never to be taken back. Sometimes moms say hurtful things we can’t take back. What’s a mom to do when we regret words we say to our own? If you’re like me, you watch and wait, hoping to see signs your words weren’t really that …
Talking Turkey
What comes to mind when you hear the word, turkey? Thanksgiving, a bird, Ben Franklin, bowling, an insult? How odd that one word has the power to present so many divergent thoughts. A couple of weeks ago my husband and I went bowling with a group of family members. I had a crazy streak of skill. I got two strikes in a row! Oh yah! As I clutched the ball for my upcoming turn, my husband called out, “Get a turkey.” I had no idea what to make of that comment. As it turns out, a turkey in bowling is …