Q: I am feeling somewhat embarrassed for our daughter. She was for many years the star of our small community. She was top of her class for graduation, a winner at our track and field meets and clearly a favourite among her teachers. She played piano for our Sunday school and was a gem around […] Read more
Author Archives
Success in life often depends on setting our own expectations
Build a new home around the kitchen table
Q: It was a bit of a sad day today. The men moving our old house off the property wrenched it free from its moorings early this morning and by lunchtime they had tied it into sets of wheels and started, very slowly, to take away what had been my home for years. I grew […] Read more
Important to act on information about suicidal thoughts
Q: Last Thursday our daughter came home from school very upset. Apparently, one of her classmates took our daughter aside and told her that she was seriously considering suicide. The young girl in question insisted that our daughter swear confidence. This was to be a secret. In fact, our daughter tried to honour the commitment […] Read more
Shame of childhood sexual assault must be addressed
Q: When I was a little girl, my aunt and uncle used to come out to the farm to spend the occasional weekend with my parents and me. They brought with them their son, a young boy who was about five years older than I. Everyone thought he was a terrific kid so when he […] Read more
Organization and exercise can relieve pandemic stress
Q: It has been a little over a year now since all of us have fallen victim to the pandemic that knows no bounds. It is all over the place, breaking out with even more infections just when we think that we might have parts of it under control. I know you have written various […] Read more
Exercise important way to fight depression
Q: Early last fall our son was discharged from the psychiatric unit of a larger hospital in the city. He was 32 at the time, old enough and mature enough to be on his own, but we were worried about his well-being and asked him to stay with us until he was more settled and […] Read more
Outside assistance can help son who is in over his head
Q: When my husband died three years ago the least of my problems at the time seemed to be the farm. Our youngest son was pegged to take it over. Charlie had worked it out so that all four of our children got their fair share of the estate while maintaining the integrity of the […] Read more
Talking about bipolar disorder is absolutely necessary
Q: I always knew that my husband had a bit of a problem, but I did not understand how significant it was. We recently spent time with our community’s psychiatrist and he said my husband is probably struggling with a bipolar disorder. That threw both of us, my husband and me, for a loop. The […] Read more
Farmer’s struggles show signs of cognitive dissonance
Q: I think my husband, otherwise known as either Mr. Lucky or the Miracle Farmer, has finally met his match. A little piece of land he picked up a few years ago is proving a challenge. My husband has always been a successful farmer. He has worked hard, studied almost as hard, and has been […] Read more
Significance of a smile is not always fully appreciated
Q: A few years ago my principal asked me if I would consider being the homeroom teacher for a Grade 7 class. Grade 7 is in the midst of what are often called “middle years” and is considered by many teachers to be the most challenging of all grades to be taught. I accepted the […] Read more
