Dianna Buchwalter

  Plop! That was the sound made as his diaper-covered rear end met the living room carpet. I was thankful for the extra cushion as I watched my son’s chubby little feet take another step. It was a shaky start but he was determined to master the art of balance. As i reached out my hands he fell into my arms and we danced with excitement! Now here we are, almost 16 years later. I often wonder where the time went. To the outside world, he’s a typical moody teenager who thinks he knows it all. But oftentimes to me, he’s still this toddler learning to walk. Sound familiar? I’ve been reminded of his current stage of life several times over the last few years. It’s not the deeper voice or change of height that’s the reality check so much but rather the steps he’s taken toward adulthood. Driving, landing a job, facing life altering decisions.  Adolescents go through such highs and lows during this phase.  Our children aren’t alone as they experience the roller coaster of emotio...

  Have you ever attended a gathering and you’re the only one over-dressed? Gosh, it feels all eyes are on you as soon as you enter the room. Last weekend, I took my decked-to-the-nines 10 year old to a Christmas party. It was the first time she had been to this friend’s home and her nerves and excitement had been building for a week. She looked beautiful in her black lace dress and red velvet shrug. As we walked in, Ava inched behind me with her hands clutched as she realized all the other girls were wearing jeans.  Mom fail #2,847! This got me thinking about all the firsts we experience throughout our lives. Walking into a new school. Entering a social event to find cliques have already been made. Visiting a church seeking food for the soul but not knowing one. We all have a first time for everything. For some, it can attack us with anxiety. But maybe it’s not first encounters that you find difficult. Maybe it’s the 300 th and yet still feel as though you don’t belong. ...

Birds of a feather flock together. We’ve all heard the phrase and know the meaning. The saying has been around for ages and is still used.  Why? Because there’s truth in it. As far back as a young girl, I can remember my parents saying they didn’t want me hanging around certain people because they saw a change in my demeanor.  Of course, I didn’t notice anything different, but, then again, it’s more often people on the outside looking in that can give us a truth we don’t seem to recognize. Have you ever noticed people who pair off at office parties?  Or, the different cliques at school? There are groups from the drama team to detention regulars and everything in between.  Why does this happen? Because people want to be with like-minded people.  We want to enjoy things with company. Is there anything wrong with having people around us to share good times with? Absolutely not. Friends are vital.  The problem lies when what others are doing/saying...