We Are Family

Mar 3, 2024

“Welcome back, brother.” These were the words that greeted me as I was reacquainting myself with the city of Edmonton, in Alberta, Canada. I had just told the Uber driver I was returning for the GETCA conference. The friendly greetings did not stop there.

On several occasions throughout my stay, individuals offered a smiling face and kind words. What caught my attention, however, was the number of times I heard people referring to each other in the familial sense – “Thanks, sister.” “I’ll head your way later, brother.”

At first this caught me off guard, but then I settled into it. And I realized this simple reference could change the emotional climate of a discussion. It was like a continual reminder that we are all connected. We are all part of the same family. What a simple, yet beautiful way to be inclusive.

At times such as these, I’m reminded how isolating our modern world can be. With advancements in technology, it is easy to lose sight of the importance of human connection. And when this happens, people inadvertently get marginalized, excluded, and feel alone – at which point we start focusing on all of our differences, rather than the things we have in common.

I’m certain our neighbors to the north aren’t perfect. I’m sure they deal with a whole lot of dysfunction – just like we do in the good ole USA. But at the end of the day, I think we could all do a better job of remembering we are all part of the same family. Thanks goes to my Canadian family for this reminder. Your crazy distant uncle from Texas looks forward to the next opportunity he has to visit your amazing country.

Start of School Goals

Welcome to the new school year. Consider kicking it off by working with your students on setting behavior and/or academic goals. I tell younger students, “One goal makes our heart happier, and the other makes our brain smarter.” Frame the discussion in terms of...

School’s About to Start! Woo Hoo! …or not

While at a restaurant earlier this week, I really enjoyed a conversation coming from the booth next to me. Two brothers were talking about the start of school. The soon-to-be first grader told the waitress he couldn't wait! The soon-to-be eighth grader...not so much....

A New Year

As we said goodbye to 2025 earlier this week, I was thinking about one of my favorite animated children’s specials, Rudolph’s Shiny New Year. In it, Father Time tells Rudolph that if the horrible vulture, Eon the Terrible, takes Happy, the Baby New Year, time stops...

Enjoy the Journey

Perspective and attitude carry a great deal of weight when it comes to behavior. Accordingly, I need to slow down during this hectic month. Of course, my tendency is to speed up. I make a list of all the tasks needing completion before the year’s end and check it...

Homeostasis

You might have noticed I stepped away from technology over the past few months. It wasn’t a choice at first. 2025 has been a challenging year - and one that has reminded me of the importance of homeostasis. A simple definition of homeostasis is “any...

Using Our Time Wisely

So, it’s been a while since I’ve posted. Sorry – this was not my intent. As I mentioned in a prior blog, my wife and I spent a great deal of time over the summer in Ohio with a lifelong friend who is now in hospice care. We’ve felt fortunate to be able to do this. ...

Unseen Challenges

We don’t know what we don’t know – this is the mantra that’s circled through my brain on several occasions this summer. People have all kinds of challenges that are not always visible to outsiders. And when we don’t know the full story behind people’s behaviors,...

Acknowledge, Defer, Step Away

So parents, are you enjoying time with your kids while school is out? Though summer can be great for families, it can also present challenges. Close quarters, combined with high amounts of together time, can become a breeding ground for conflict. Keep in mind that...

Blooming Challenges

II’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Parents, you are going to get frustrated with your kids. But when that happens, find an activity you enjoy and step away. This strategy help you avoid a power struggle, and more importantly, adjusts your perspective....

Time to Refuel

Educators, this is just a reminder that It’s called summer break for a reason. Your work August through May is draining, which takes a toll on your physical, emotional and mental health. You might not be consciously aware of this now because when your brain and body...

Mother’s Day – A Collective Effort

It’s Mother’s Day - and the end of Teacher Appreciation Week. This seems appropriate since most teachers play the role of surrogate mom about 180 days per year. Teachers nurture, support, encourage, provide boundaries, model, listen, and teach. These...