Children’s issues

To Sean on His 10th Birthday

by Bill Brenner April 21, 2011 Children's issues

Sean turns 10 today, and this is my birthday message to him. Let’s start with the appropriate mood music, a song you are very fond of: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpOxjOj0zhk&fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0] You entered the world on Earth Day, 10 years ago. Wow. A full decade. As I wrote to you last year, you were graced with a beautiful Mom and a Dad with just a few kinks in him. I would always try to hide my OCD, depression and addictive behavior from you, but…  [Read More]

Firing Someone For Mental Illness Is An Outrage

by Bill Brenner April 19, 2011 Children's issues

If someone does a lousy job at work, they deserve to be fired. If someone does the job well but is fired because they have a mental illness, that’s an outrage. Mood music: [spotify:track:0OGwOky2l941SPRkE56kU9] This morning’s tirade brought to you by this comment posted on the LinkedIn NAMI group discussion board: I lost my job as Director – Communications from a regional Chamber of Commerce after disclosing my 30 years of living and working with…  [Read More]

Stuff My Kids (and Their Friends) Say, Part 5

by Bill Brenner April 18, 2011 Children's issues

Welcome to another installment of Stuff My Kids Say. Life is full of daily struggle and it can be hard to stop for a moment and appreciate one’s blessings. Fortunately for me, my kids are good at pulling me back down to Earth. And, I realized this past weekend, so are their friends. Mood music: Primus, “John the Fisherman” Parts 1, 2, 3 and 4 of this series were based on random moments around the…  [Read More]

The Pink FEAR-ies Strike Again

by Bill Brenner April 15, 2011 Children's issues

Since Duncan’s favorite color is pink, I get pretty pissed when I see stories about the high-and-mighty going nuts because they mistake a color for a gender or sexual orientation. Mood music: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwQ0fVShIZk&fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0] The latest example is this J. Crew ad, where a mom is painting her son’s toe-nails hot pink: People have been going absolutely crazy over this, suggesting that the boy will be scarred for life and need thousands of dollars of…  [Read More]

Back Where I Belong

by Bill Brenner April 7, 2011 Children's issues

I’m sitting at the airport in Ft. Myers, Fla. waiting to board a plane that’ll take me home. I like to go on these trips. But it’s always better to go home. MOOD MUSIC: “DRIFTAWAY” BY MOTLEY CRUE (the Corabi album) Ever since I shook myself free of the fear and anxiety that came with my earlier form of OCD, I’ve had a craving for these journeys, perhaps for the simple reason that I can…  [Read More]

Guilt: The Blessing and the Curse

by Bill Brenner April 7, 2011 Children's issues

Everyone struggles with guilt from time to time. Guilt is good in that feeling it means you have the desire to right a wrong. But when you mix it with OCD, the results are catastrophic. MOOD MUSIC: “Step Outside” by 360s I’ve always had a powerful guilty conscience. For the most part it has served me well. In my moments of anger, hatred, depression and despair, it has kept me from going too far in…  [Read More]

Sean and Duncan Discover The Pixies — And More

by Bill Brenner March 25, 2011 Children's issues

I’m in the long car line in front of the kids’ school this morning. Stuck in park, I put in The Pixies Greatest Hits. The intro to “The Bone Machine” fills the car and I start drumming on the steering wheel. Mood music: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJfCIQHwQT8&fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0] “Dad, how did you get so good?” Sean asks. I’m not very good, but to an almost 10-year-old it doesn’t take much to impress. “I dunno. I guess it comes…  [Read More]

To My Nephew…

by Bill Brenner March 18, 2011 Children's issues

The family has been blessed with a new addition: Owen Patrick Coughlin, born last night. His mom is my sister-in-law Robin and his dad is my brother-in-law Tim. This is a letter to my new nephew. He won’t be able to read or understand it for several years, but hopefully it’ll serve him well when he’s ready. Hi, Owen, I’m you’re Uncle Bill, the one who’s going to show affection by teasing you a lot….  [Read More]

Nephew Is On His Way

by Bill Brenner March 17, 2011 Children's issues

Learned a bit ago that my sister-in-law Robin has gone into labor. Expect future installments of “Stuff My Kids and Niece Say” to include the nephew…once he learns to talk. In the meantime, the other kids will no doubt continue to run their mouths off enough for a few more sequels.

Physical & Mental Health: Not Two Different Things

by Bill Brenner March 16, 2011 Children's issues

I got a note this morning from an old friend that brilliantly illustrates how tightly physical and mental health are intertwined. Mood music: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLrxQ2Cdwho&fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0] I’ll share his note, but keep the name out: Went to see a chiropractor yesterday (after the urging of my wife) to help with my anxiety. Went in very skeptical. After a thorough diagnosis, she discovered I have trouble with my cranial nerves and have an “over excited” nervrous system…  [Read More]

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →