Discovering Ben Underwood

January 26, 1992 — January 19, 2009

A very special young man, Ben had a gift for finding life's possibilities—specifically, seeing without eyes. The short video below tells it all. To learn more about Ben, you can also check out his mother's book . . .

Excellent Nonprofit Board Guidance

John E. Creeden, author of the NAIS (National Association of Independent Schools) The Board Chair Handbook, wrote this excellent article, "Boardroom: Cultivating a Positive Board Culture." There is so much good information.

The author captures the essence of his piece in this opening sentence: “A negative board culture can introduce toxicity, where the self-interest of a few board members prevails, influential people yield imbalanced power over others, and only a few positive rituals bring people together.”

Stop Trying to Raise Successful Kids

From NA KIM Dec. 2019 The Atlantic

"Stop Trying to Raise Successful Kids" by Adam Grant and Allison Sweet Grant in the December 2019 The Atlantic captures so many fine points in raising kids. Here is the exquisitely powerful opening paragraph:

“As anyone who has been called out for hypocrisy by a small child knows, kids are exquisitely attuned to gaps between what grown-ups say and what grown-ups do. If you survey American parents about what they want for their kids, more than 90 percent say one of their top priorities is that their children be caring. This makes sense: Kindness and concern for others are held as moral virtues in nearly every society and every major religion. But when you ask children what their parents want for them, 81 percent say their parents value achievement and happiness over caring.”

How to Raise an Adult

I cannot say enough about How to Raise an Adult by Julie Lythcott-Haims. You can view the author's TED Talk below and get a passionate, brilliant overview, but in order to have it all sink in—if you want it to—read the book. I have never dog-eared a book so much as I have with this one. Page after page captures much wisdom based on the author's research, professional experience, and personal experience raising two teenage sons.

Here is one example found on pages 203-206 where she talks about
"THIS IS A PARENT'S RIGHT AND RESPONSIBILITY:
DON'T SHRINK FROM IT

1. Model it.
2. Expect their help.
3. Don't apologize or over explain.
4. Give clear, straightforward instructions.
5. Give appropriate thanks and feedback.
6. Make it routine."

And, another wise set of self-help items on pages 278-282 . . .
"HOW TO LOOK AFTER YOURSELF
(YOU'LL BE A BETTER PARENT AS A RESULT)

1. Discover your passion and purpose, and chart your path accordingly.
2. Learn to say no.
3. Prioritize your health and wellness.
4. Make time for your most important relationship(s).
5. Interrogate your relationship with money.
6. Practice kindness and gratitude."

Millennials Do Make a Difference . . .

. . . more than ever. They are the most popular generation, now outnumbering Baby Boomers. Also, they will be the ones who will help us get closer to building humanity as presented in the book Biased by Jennifer L. Eberhardt and stop being a nation divided by different tribes and class. The book states “[Millennials] are the most diverse adult generation in American history. About one-third are foreign born and almost half are non-white.” (page 278)

Here is a neat, popular video that tells about the Millennial reputation. Listen carefully to what they have to say . . .