Mantra: Got a Minute? 

More than two hundred years ago when William Wordsworth wrote “the world is too much with us,” little did he know how much the world would be with us today. What would he think of our overscheduled, over-stressed, over-worked world that leaves us with little time to relax and unwind, little time to close our […]

The Magic of Motivation

What wakes us up with new hope every morning? What fills our dreams at night? What helps keep us going toward those dreams and goals each day? It’s that little pep-talk voice inside our heads that says, “You can do it!”   Sometimes that little voice becomes a fading whisper. Sometimes duties of the day […]

The Eyes of the Poet: Seeing Like an Artist

What joy simple pleasures bring! One of our greatest gifts is the ability to simply take time to appreciate and enjoy the world around us. Fine-tuning our ability to notice detail is an important skill of the artist and the writer. It is an important skill for everyone to enjoy!   Every time you see […]

Where Do Poems Come From?

I’m asked that question a lot. Where do poems come from? Where do you get your ideas? It’s like one of those questions we hear from our children, “Where do babies come from?” A wise parent will offer an explanation based upon what they think is appropriate for the age and level of understanding of […]

For the Love of Sport: The 10 Commandments of Coaching

Children love to play! They are often happiest when they are moving. From the time they take their first steps, their love of walking, running, jumping, and dancing begins — and grows! As their love of movement grows, they soon discover the joy of group sports, of throwing, catching and kicking balls, and playing together […]

The Love of Reading: ADVICE FOR YOUNG PARENTS

“If children know eight nursery rhymes by heart by the time they’re four years old, they’re usually among the best readers by the time they’re eight.” —Mem Fox   One of the greatest gifts you can share with your babies and toddlers is your love of learning. That love often begins with the love of […]

10 Things I’ve Learned as a Children’s Poet

Children have the best imaginations. Children look at the world from the inside out. Children love lyrical language. Daydreaming is a highly underrated art form. When you write for children, don’t write for children. Write from the child in you. It is better to show, than tell. Style is not how you write. It is […]

What’s So Grand about Grandchildren?

It is no wonder we call them grand children and they call us grand parents. From the moment they arrive, they transform us into the grandest we have ever been. They give us new names, and we are never the same. They fill our hearts with love and laughter and other wondrous gifts of grandeur. […]

The Poetry of Life

We are all poets. Each one of us sees the world in our own special way. Whenever we look up at the passing clouds and see long tail dragons and sailing ships we are poets. When we share our visions and dreams we are poets. We are poets whenever we tell the world who we […]