Buyer’s Remorse – Facing The Barbie Dilemma

Editor’s Note: Good morning! Karen Pantuso-Swanson is here with another insightful look at the trials and tribulations of parenting. Here she is:
“Math class is tough.” – Mattel’s Talking Barbie
I lost myself for about half-an-hour one Saturday afternoon. I’m not sure where I went, but another mom who buys high-heeled shoes and Barbies for her daughter inhabited [...]

Choosing Love – Making Friends From Enemies

Editor’s Note: Good afternoon. If you missed Gayle’s post on culture and waste, you can read it HERE. Now here’s Karen Pantuso-Swanson with another lovely story of motherhood:
“The best way to destroy an enemy is to make him a friend.” – Abraham Lincoln
Not everyone is a fan of Valentine’s Day. Some people detest the commercialization [...]

The Wisdom of Children – The Freedom of Innocence

Editor’s Note: Good morning. Karen Pantuso-Swanson is with us this morning sharing a lovely story that displays the ease and confidence that come with the innocence of childhood. Enjoy. Here she is:
“Kids: they dance before they know there is anything that isn’t music.” – William Stafford
My mom is a tap-dancer. She taught me to dance when I [...]

The Wisdom of Children – Teaching Compassion

Editor’s Note: As we enjoy our holiday week with family and friends, Karen Pantuso joins us this morning with a lovely story revealing the heart of children and their limitless capacity for compassion. Enjoy!

“We cannot do great things on this Earth, only small things with great love.”
~ Mother Teresa
When I traveled to Jejuri, India to [...]

The Wisdom of Children – Eating Our Words

Editor’s note: Happy Saturday. This morning we have local blogger and Grateful Mama author Karen Pantuso-Swanson joining us for the first of what will become a regular column on OBE. (Yay Karen). She is with us sharing some heartfelt insight from her 3-year-old daughter that makes us all chuckle a bit and understand that kids teach us [...]

Review of The Grateful Mama

It was only a few weeks ago that I had the chance to meet local mom, blogger and teacher Karen Pantuso-Swanson in person.

As we sat across the table from each other at Benino Gelato, I thought to myself “How amazing she is, taking such a huge chance on her life.”
It’s a rarity – someone who [...]