I’ve been thinking a lot about my mother-in-law this week.  She is 90 years old and lives independently in a retirement community.  Though she still drives and is in good health, she spends most days alone, due to the pandemic.  We connect through phone calls, but like most of her peers, she does not use a computer, so other virtual formats are not an option. My heart goes out to people who...

Ever need a break? Tensions get high and we look for an escape – a place to step away and feel solid ground beneath our feet. We’ve all been there, having experienced stress brought on by family members, co-workers, kids, and of course, life situations. The St. Romain household welcomed family refugees over the weekend, courtesy of Hurricane Delta. It seems like just yesterday they were with...

I have spent the majority of my adult life talking about human behavior – specifically children’s. But this week I’ve been reflecting on adult behaviors and how they serve as a model for kids. A disturbing trend has been gaining traction in the past few years. There is an elephant in the room. And rather than being trampled by it, I am choosing to discuss it. To say there is tension in our...

Do you know kids who are obsessive? They get stuck on one point or issue and completely miss the bigger picture and pattern of what is happening. I’ve seen this trait in many students over the years. It can be debilitating. Truth be known, I suffer from this affliction. It usually plays out in one of two ways. In the first scenario I get hung up on one detail of something and can’t move on....

“Do you have time to talk me off a ledge?” This was a text I got last Sunday from a frustrated colleague and friend. That kicked off the first of numerous discussions I had with people during the week about behavior issues. And trust me, concerns are evident on numerous levels – between teachers and students… parents and their children… administrators and parents… Conflict surfaces...

Sometimes opportunities present themselves and we just need to seize them.  So parents and teachers, let me remind you – experience is the best teacher.  Accordingly, now is a good time for our children to both learn and practice a critical life skill: accepting disappointment.  Of course, how our kids deal with the frustration of being disappointed will be determined mainly by how the...

I grew up in Lake Charles, Louisiana, on Cusic – a small street tucked right next to McNeese State University. My bike and I had many adventures on that road. So, when I saw an image of that specific downed street sign circulating through Facebook, I was taken aback. Hurricane Laura has now been added to the list of 2020 challenges – along with COVID-19, racial division, devastating fires in...

Ever wake up feeling less than perky? A bit grumpy? tired? Your emotional state can cloud the day pretty grey if something doesn’t happen to turn things around. This is why I make it a huge point to create as inviting an atmosphere in my workshops as possible – music, table groups, and most importantly, strong greetings. When possible, I do my best to welcome participants at the door. The...

Not twitching – It’s one of my hardest parenting jobs. I am usually able to do this with students, but with my own children, it’s different. Our own children always seem to bring out the extremes – extreme emotions, extreme behaviors, extreme reactions. Last night my wife and I invited Micah to join us for a dinner outing. Unfortunately, there was a wait at the restaurant, so Micah,...

So, I was raised with the value of leaving things nicer than I found them.  Of course, I consciously try to do this every day.  Be it a smile, kind word, gesture or humorous quip, I try to make a difference in the affect of the individuals with whom I interact.  I like to think of it as behavioral residue.  We all leave an impression, and sometimes those impressions stick.  Today I discovered...