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Author Dr. Robert Saul

Raising Young Citizens in the Age of Columbine

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    • Conscious Parenting: Using the Parental Awareness Threshold
    • My Children’s Children: Raising Young Citizens in the Age of Columbine
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Blog

Discipline does not equal punishment

March 19, 2023 By Robert Saul

Discipline

The intrinsic problem with equating discipline with punishment is a misunderstanding of the meaning of discipline. The word discipline comes from a root word meaning to teach or instruct.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: conscious parenting, corporal punishment, discipline, instruct, parenting, punishment, safe stable nurturing relationships, SSNRs, teaching

Birmingham, AL (1963) – Children at play?

March 12, 2023 By Robert Saul

Children's crusade

The children in Birmingham AL peacefully protested segregation, segregation with its inherent unequal education and unequal economic opportunity, and were greeted with violence.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: Birmingham Children's Crusade, civil rights, Constance Baker Motley, Martin Luther King Jr., segregation

My Children’s Children?

March 5, 2023 By Robert Saul

MCC

My Children’s Children was therefore chosen as the title to give a voice (sometimes more of a shout!) on behalf of my children, my grandchildren, my patients and their children, and all children.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: citizenship, forgiveness, get involved, love for others, my children's children, our children's children, parenting, stay involved

Thoughts on Medical Trust

February 26, 2023 By Robert Saul

Caduceus

The brewing distrust for medicine and science that has bubbled up, especially during the pandemic, only serves to diminish health care (acute, chronic, supportive and preventive). The public needs to trust the medical profession.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: COVID, medical trust, prevention, trust, vaccines

WOKE – Count me in

February 19, 2023 By Robert Saul

Woke

If woke is being “aware of and actively attentive to important societal facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice),” then count me in.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: book banning, gun regulation, LGBTQ, poverty, public schools, racism, school choice, systemic racism, transgender, woke

The Pediatric Way

February 12, 2023 By Robert Saul

Children

I am proud to be part of a movement that sees the importance of treating all children as our valuable resources to be nurtured and cherished.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: adult-manifest disease, adult-onset disease, childhood adversity, early brain and child development, Pediatric Way, poverty

Tears – Rinsing our psyches

February 5, 2023 By Robert Saul

Tears

Tears are so important in our lives. Let’s let them rinse our emotions – grieving together, celebrating together, being nonjudgmental – as we support each other.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: Come From Away, happy tears, psyche, sad tears, tears

M&Ms…(and M&M&Ms)

January 30, 2023 By Robert Saul

M&Ms

Sages can use their lifetime of experience by being positive contributors to the community and continuing to provide purpose to their own lives.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: age-ing, elderly, elders, mediators, mentors, mobilizers, monitors, motivators, sage-ing, sages

Grace – A Gift or A Journey?

January 22, 2023 By Robert Saul

Grace cover

To accept the grace of God and others might be our fate but to make it meaningful requires us to be on a journey to accept that grace and pass it on.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: Clementa Pinckney, Confederate flag, grace, Mother Emanuel church shooting, President Obama, Sandy Hook

The Strength of Social Capital

January 15, 2023 By Robert Saul

Bowling

Social capital refers to good will, fellowship, sympathy, and social intercourse among individuals and families.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: citizenship, fellowship, goodwill, involvement, social capital, social intercourse, sympathy

Happiness for children

January 8, 2023 By Robert Saul

Happiness

Caring for each other is the hallmark of caring citizens…and the path to happiness. What a beautiful trail to lead our children down.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: childhood happiness, common good, divorce, happiness

Laughter and tears are potent salves

January 1, 2023 By Robert Saul

Salves

We should be looking for salves (anything that soothes or relieves) in our interactions with our children.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: contemplation, laughter, recommit, renewal, Resilience, review, safe stable nurturing relationships, SSNRs, tears

Are we asking the right questions?

December 25, 2022 By Robert Saul

Life's questions

Asking the right question – “What happened to you” – allows us to switch the focus from blaming children for their behavior to a place of understanding and allows us to be more impactful with our attempts at helpful interventions.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: early brain and child development, life's questions, what happened to you

The Challenge of Mercy

December 18, 2022 By Robert Saul

Mercy

Mercy is that peculiar quality that at times seems ephemeral (transient, temporary) yet pervasive in its calling.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: Bryan Stevenson, Chaos of others, compassion, Dawn Turner, mercy

“Light-bulb” Moments

December 11, 2022 By Robert Saul

Light-bulb moment

Epiphanies, revelations, or “light-bulb” moments are sometimes easy to recognize but, more often than not, are only noticed after the fact.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: "light-bulb" moment, civility, diversity, epiphany, faith, forgiveness, involvement, love for others, parenting, revelation, science, trust, truth

Timeless Christmas gifts

December 4, 2022 By Robert Saul

Christmas gift

This holiday season, let’s consider the gifts of substance as the most important gifts to share with our children and family. Gifts of substance are those that have lasting value and are often considered timeless. These are gifts that touch the heart and soul of human interactions, the essence of the bond between parent and child.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: Christmas gifts, communication, compassion, forgiveness, gifts of substance, involvement, lifelong learning, live by example, work ethic

Lack of Sportsmanship = Lack of Civility

November 27, 2022 By Robert Saul

Sportsmanship

The example of sportsmanship sets the stage for positive community improvement. Sportsmanship demonstrates love for others, respect, and honesty.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: civility, empathy, hate, sportsmanship, violence

How to Move Forward

November 20, 2022 By Robert Saul

Moving forward

While we often have a tough time dealing with forgiveness for painful issues (personal, business, social, or community), we can still move on making sure we don’t let our confusion cloud our actions. We must work together, taking communal responsibility, to improve the life of our community.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: forgiveness, moving forward, reconciliation

Critical factors for parenting

November 13, 2022 By Robert Saul

Parenting

We should never assume that parents don’t need help “navigating the maze” that we call parenthood.  We all need help and should never be embarrassed to ask.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: common good, humility, life-long learning, love, parenting, patience, persistence, relational health, social determinants of health, trauma-informed care

Why Mentors Matter – A Tribute to Dr. Sam Katz

November 5, 2022 By Robert Saul

Dr. Katz

He was an experienced and trusted advisor, but he was so much more. His mentorship set the stage for multiple aspects of my career.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: educator, gratitude, innovator, measles vaccine, mentors, pediatric residency, Samuel Katz, visionary

The toxicity of hate

October 30, 2022 By Robert Saul

Stop hate

Hate evokes such a powerful emotion that its toxicity affects our own thoughts, our interpersonal relationships (partner, family, friends) and our social relationships.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: Abraham Lincoln, children, common humanity, hate, toxicity

“With malice toward none, with charity for all”

October 23, 2022 By Robert Saul

Lincoln

Lincoln knew the only way to rebuild and move forward, was to accept the common responsibility for the problems of the day (“with malice toward none”) and work together to improve from this time forward (“with charity for all”).

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: citizenship, Civil War, Lincoln, love for others, politics

“You’ve got a Friend in Me” – Woody Rides Again

October 15, 2022 By Robert Saul

Woody

“You’ve got a friend in me” only works if we accept the responsibility that goes with it.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: aging, friendship, love for others, toy allegory, Toy Story

Racial inequity – It cannot be whitewashed

October 9, 2022 By Robert Saul

End Racism

Racism is a problem for all but particularly children. Those affected are raised in an environment that has lifetime effects and usually multiple effects across generations. The easy thing to do is to sit back and just hope that society does better. But those that care for children are not allowed that “luxury.” They must engage to make a difference.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: anti-racism, poverty, racial inequity, racism, segregation, the South

Revisiting My Father – Thanks to Fred Rogers

October 2, 2022 By Robert Saul

Fred Rogers

Being mindful of those around us and accepting them and their humanity is so crucial to our lives. The lessons of Mr. Rogers are pertinent to me, at every stage of my life.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: alcoholism, early nurturing, fatherhood, forgiveness, Fred Rogers

It takes a village – it really does!

September 25, 2022 By Robert Saul

Village

There is an African proverb stating that “it takes a village to raise a child” implying that a local (or even broader) community of people need to work together along with a child’s parents to raise a child to their maximum potential.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: childhood education, communal parenting, faith, health care, law enforcement, parenting, poverty, recreation, village

I Might Be Getting Older But…

September 19, 2022 By Robert Saul

Elders

Elders need to get involved as sages. Sages are elders who choose to use their experience in life for the betterment of their fellow citizens.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: aging, elders, mediators, mentors, mobilizers, monitors, motivators, sage-ing, sages

Why Forgiveness?

September 11, 2022 By Robert Saul

Forgiveness

Forgiveness is an essential trait to human existence. The ability to forgive allows us to move on in our lives, progressing from childhood to adolescence to adulthood. Forgiveness is therefore a fundamental developmental step in our lives.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: citizenship, forgiveness, humanity, humility, sincerity, vulnerability

Why this pediatrician decided to write books

September 5, 2022 By Robert Saul

Love

Pediatrics is a great medical specialty. Its impact on its practitioners and on patients and their families can be long lasting. For me, the impact has been enormous. I have felt that I have a tremendous responsibility to children and their families. The practice of pediatrics has made me a better person.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: children, citizens, families, parenting

Parallels between civil rights legal struggles and 2020 election denials

August 28, 2022 By Robert Saul

Kennedy 1962

It is quite plain to me that the early segregationists and their perversion of the rule of law are eerily similar to the attempt by some prominent politicians to subvert the rule of law with the attack on the Capitol and the continued attack on our laws and the Constitution.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: civil rights, election denial, integration, lawlessness, racism, segregation

LOVE THY NEIGHBOR

August 21, 2022 By Robert Saul

Love thy neighbor

Love for thy neighbor is really tough for all of us, if we are honest with ourselves. Yet total disregard for this holy instruction makes a mockery of public service and tears at the moral fabric of the country when it is allowed to continue and accepted as the new norm.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: love, love thy neighbor, neighbor, parenting

Thoughts from a Proud “Flip-Flopper”

August 14, 2022 By Robert Saul

flip flops

I proudly accept the fact that I have changed my opinion and have “flip-flopped.” I would argue that I have not flip-flopped but rather have made a reasoned decision based on a lifetime of experience and moral conviction.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: capital punishment, death penalty, flip-flopping, forgiveness

Labels—Merchandise, yes; People, no

August 6, 2022 By Robert Saul

Labels

Labels can have specific roles and functions. They can provide information as needed to make decisions about purchases. On merchandise, they can be helpful signaling certain measures of quality, perceived or real. But labels have no place in describing people.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: humanity, labels, political correctness

Lessons from Moon Visitors

August 1, 2022 By Robert Saul

Moon

“We don’t go to heaven when we die, we go to heaven when we’re born.”

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: celestial telescope, common good, heaven on earth

A Selfish Agenda

July 24, 2022 By Robert Saul

Selfishness

Selfishness does not and will not serve us well. We must recommit to the principles of the American dream and reject the notion of us vs. them.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: children, citizenship, empathy, selfishness, selflessness

“Show the world all the love in your heart”

July 18, 2022 By Robert Saul

Beautiful

I just adore the words in the Carole King song, BEAUTIFUL. 

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: empathy, love, music

The lessons of Gross Anatomy linger

July 11, 2022 By Robert Saul

Gross anatomy

Though now clinically retired, I am forever indebted to the profession of medicine and how I have hopefully helped others and how so many others (colleagues and patients) have helped me. And I am particularly indebted to the early donor for my anatomy experience.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: awesome responsibility, gross anatomy, medical school

To Kill a Mockingbird meets Friday Night Lights

July 4, 2022 By Robert Saul

To Kill a Mockingbird

Great literature tells us stories that are timeless and remind us of our responsibility to our fellow citizens. Often children are the messengers of these messages.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: blind spots, childhood innocence, empathy

What is Patriotism?

June 27, 2022 By Robert Saul

Patriotism

Patriotism is not passive. Patriotism requires action.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: civility, diversity, faith, Lincoln, patriotism, science, trust, truth

The Power of Vulnerability

June 21, 2022 By Robert Saul

Vulnerability

Being vulnerable when practicing forgiveness is a strength and one to accept as a strength when dealing when others. I applaud the strength of vulnerability, acknowledge its power, and encourage others to do the same.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: forgiveness, life journey, vulnerability

Bui Doi – They are all our children, too

June 14, 2022 By Robert Saul

Bui Doi

If we cannot see our common humanity, then I dare say we have lost our own humanity.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: children, humanity, war

Adversity, resilience, and flourishing – Oh my!

June 9, 2022 By Robert Saul

Flourishing

There is a path forward from adversity. Resilience and flourishing to help establish SSNRs and using the tools of relational health can help clear that path.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: adversity, flourishing, relational health, relationships, Resilience

How to leave a “Columbine-world”

June 2, 2022 By Robert Saul

Columbine

We are now over twenty-three years post Columbine. My journey continues

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: citizenship, Columbine, community improvement, empathy

Incivility

May 28, 2022 By Robert Saul

Incivility

“There is a cultural obsession nowadays with civility, with the idea that if everyone is mannered enough, any impasse or difference of opinion can be bridged. But these are desperately uncivil times. And there is nothing more uncivilized than the political establishment’s inurement to the constancy of mass shootings in the United States.”

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: children, gun violence, incivility

Better is Good

May 17, 2022 By Robert Saul

Better

When I look back at the life of Gandhi or Martin Luther King, Jr. or John Lewis, I realize by their words and actions that “better is good” was often the next acceptable step, and that “better is actually a lot harder than worse” was so true.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: activism, advocacy, better, children, improvement, pediatrics

Why a pediatrician (and son) decided to write books

May 11, 2022 By Robert Saul

Mom and son

While pediatricians do not use holy water in their interactions, they do invest an incredible amount of professional experience and emotional energy as they engage in a partnership with their families.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: children, citizenship, empathy, pediatrics

Our Children are Ill: Should we treat the symptoms or the cause?

May 5, 2022 By Robert Saul

Children

Let’s address all children as our children and promote policies and practices that support the formation and maintenance of safe, stable and nurturing relationships.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: children, nurturing, relationship

MERCY

April 27, 2022 By Robert Saul

Mercy

Whether engaged in medical service as a physician or community service as a citizen, we need to let mercy be our guide and let compassion and forbearance lead us forward.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: chaos, mercy

Horses were my mother’s religion

April 19, 2022 By Robert Saul

The love of horses

My mother was a very devout person. Her love for horses was the perfect outlet for her creative energy and was the demonstrable way for her to show her love for so many things.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: horses, love, moral compass, spousal abuse

NEVER AGAIN? NOT REALLY

April 6, 2022 By Robert Saul

Never again

Lies are costly. Lies have a cost because they multiply; because they tear at our moral fabric; because they can become unrecognizable.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: genocide, lies, trust, truth

Science and Children: What’s the Big Deal?

March 31, 2022 By Robert Saul

Science and children

Science matters—it improves lives, it tells us when we need to make changes and it provides a blueprint how to help children and their families.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: childhood cancer, childhood development, children, science, vaccination

Why? Because I care about children

March 11, 2022 By Robert Saul

Children

Yes, I might be overzealous in my work on their behalf, but I will be unapologetic. Why? Because I care about children.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: children, civility, diversity, families, history, racism, science, trust, truth

Skepticism can erode trust

February 27, 2022 By Robert Saul

Skepticism

Only when we recognize the healthy aspects of being a skeptic (to keep us morally strong) and diminish the toxic aspects of being a skeptic (believing unverified information and breeding mutual suspicion) can begin to see our path forward. We have to be open to listen, carefully observe and course correct when needed.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: common good, skepticism, truth

Receiving trust requires give and take

February 19, 2022 By Robert Saul

Receiving trust

Trust is such a difficult issue to discuss at times. We all want to be trusted, and we want to able to trust others. I refer to the former as projecting trust and the latter as receiving trust.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: honesty, trust

Staying “true” to the truth – Moral courage

February 10, 2022 By Robert Saul

Moral courage

the ability to hold our ground and stay the course and to let right triumph over might displays the moral courage necessary to stay true to the truth. We will all waver at times, so this is a difficult virtue to uphold.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: courage, moral courage, morality, truth, truth-seeking

The toxin of poverty and children—a way out?

January 29, 2022 By Robert Saul

Childhood poverty

Poverty is a harmful toxin in the lives of children. It is a lifelong environmental toxin that affects children in the short-term and the long-term.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: childhood development, children, poverty

Conflict Resolution by Rational Discourse

January 19, 2022 By Robert Saul

Conflict resolution

The ability to resolve conflict in civilized society is probably not an innate ability. We have to be taught how to do it. We need to see positive role models in our parents, family members, employers, teachers, and fellow citizens.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: conflict resolution, forgiveness, rational discourse

“Professional” lessons learned

January 8, 2022 By Robert Saul

Lessons learned

Recently I was asked to write an article about my professional journey. When I was completing that, I took the time to highlight 5 lessons learned. As I detail them below, I also realize that they have applicability to all of our social interactions and that every day is a day to learn and improve.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: bias, common good, humanity, intuition, lessons learned, retirement, smile

Truth-seeking is a humbling journey

December 27, 2021 By Robert Saul

Truth

Truth matters. It is not easy, and it is a journey that one must sincerely pursue…and humbly accept.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: life journey, truth, truth-seeking

The Professional Road Less Traveled

December 16, 2021 By Robert Saul

Professional journey

One might ask what I have learned in my close to 50 years since college and foster parenthood being a pediatrician, medical geneticist, educator, administrator and author. I could create a long list, but I will choose just a few

Filed Under: Thoughts

Columbine revisited – again and again

December 7, 2021 By Robert Saul

School children

These measures are no guarantee that school shootings will be eliminated. It is time for all of us to pledge to make the changes needed. Life is complicated, and bad things will continue to happen. But just accepting the death of children as inevitable and extending “thoughts and prayers” to the families is reprehensible when corrective measures are available.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: Columbine, forgiveness, gun regulation, mental health, parenting, schools

Somewhere…

November 30, 2021 By Robert Saul

Somewhere...

If we use our strengths and seek to improve where we can, then we begin to get to that somewhere, somehow and some day. That is our joint humanity.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: children, civility, diversity, faith, forgiveness, science, trust, truth

The Correctness of Political Correctness

November 16, 2021 By Robert Saul

Political correctness is correct

Political correctness is ok and necessary in my view. It serves to adjust our moral compass on an episodic basis. Not only is it a good thing, it is a necessary component of a civil society and democracy such as ours. After all, civility is the hallmark of citizens of faith. Citizens of faith care about how they treat each other.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: civility, democracy, political correctness, racism

To Be Unconscious or Conscious – That is the Parenting Question

November 5, 2021 By Robert Saul

Unconscious or conscious

There are two ways to be a parent—unconscious or conscious. Like most things in life, this is not a binary choice. It is both. I contend that we vacillate back and forth continually as we try to maneuver this journey called parenting.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: conscious, parental awareness, parenting, unconscious

Em (“within”) – Pathos (“suffering”): Empathy Revisited

October 20, 2021 By Robert Saul

To practice empathy, I have to use my own strengths and weaknesses to reach out, gently peek behind the curtain, be humble, and pursue a course of active engagement.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: common good, empathy, heaven on earth

The everyday lessons of genocide

October 11, 2021 By Robert Saul

Reaching out

The lessons of genocide are unfortunately the lessons of everyday life. We need to listen long and hard to those lessons so we can improve our community and the community of humankind.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: community involvement, genocide

Personal responsibility in our community

September 19, 2021 By Robert Saul

Responsibility

Getting involved in our community in some tangible way is crucial for positive change. Change will only occur when citizens commit to get involved in the issues in their community.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: community improvement, involvement, personal responsibility, social capital

The gaps…oh, the gaps

September 7, 2021 By Robert Saul

Filling the gaps

The gaps that we ignore in history only serve to perpetuate false nostalgia or continue a false narrative. When doing so, we continue to deny what defines our history.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: gaps, racism, reckoning, slavery

TRUST AND FAITH…AND LOVE

August 27, 2021 By Robert Saul

trust

I think the intersection of trust, faith and love is very much a part of the practice of medicine and reasonably shared by an elder in his community.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: faith, love, trust

Forgiveness – Field of Dreams style

August 12, 2021 By Robert Saul

Forgiveness is essential as we strive to improve ourselves and the lives of our fellow citizens. Let’s pay attention to the signs (church, movies, and music to name a few) that can provide the guideposts for us to recognize our current situation and make a positive change. This change (forgiving ourselves first) must occur before we can make a difference.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: field of dreams, forgiveness, reconciliation

This I Believe – Parenting Matters

August 6, 2021 By Robert Saul

Parenting

The power of the influence of our parents is incalculable. They can provide the platform for our actions and the actions of generations to come.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: beliefs, influence, parenting

Parenting and maps

July 18, 2021 By Robert Saul

Directions

Parenting is sometimes considered an innate process to raise one’s children to be capable adults—that everything is straightforward and will easily fall into place over the years from birth to adulthood. Conceiving children does not properly prepare us for the nurturing, physical and emotional, needed to raise healthy children.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: parenting

Sages can make a difference

June 17, 2021 By Robert Saul

As we age, we can choose to be elderly or become elders. In the former role, we tend to accept the physical and mental changes and just lament their presence as inevitable. In the latter role, we are not “age-ing” per se but hopefully “sage-ing.” As a sage, we are using our collective experience to help provide advice and potential wisdom to others.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: aging, community improvement, elders, involvement, sage-ing

The tale of three opposites

June 7, 2021 By Robert Saul

The tale of three opposites

More often than not, we know the things we should be doing. I can recall many times when knowing something still did not translate into positive actions on my part. When that happens, I have found that looking at opposites can be helpful.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: anti-racism, justice, love, poverty, racism, selfishness

It’s a free country

May 16, 2021 By Robert Saul

USA map

Freedom is not really ours. It is a gift, and we must use that gift wisely. Great sacrifices have been made on our behalf. And we must honor those sacrifices.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: democracy, freedom, responsibility

DEAR EVAN HANSEN has lessons for us all, beyond our youth

May 5, 2021 By Robert Saul

The Broadway musical “Dear Evan Hansen” deals with issues confronted in the angst of adolescence and about learning how to deal with these issues. But these lessons are life-long issues—they are just more dramatic during adolescence and the emotions needed to deal with them then are often more exposed. So, it is appropriate to relook at the lessons and add an additional adult perspective

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: Dear Evan Hansen, forgiveness, lessons of life

What to Say to Someone Who Lost a Child

April 29, 2021 By Robert Saul

Child loss

I know from experience the anguish that families experience with the loss of a child. Whether the circumstances include a previously healthy child who died from a tragic accident or a child with a chronic health condition who succumbed to their disease, families are never really prepared for their loss. They need our support, especially when we might be uncomfortable and not know what to say.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: child death, Child loss, grief, guilt

Save Our Children!

April 21, 2021 By Robert Saul

The abuse and neglect of our children is preventable. Children, our most precious resource for the future and our most vulnerable group of people, deserve our protection.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: Child abuse, child neglect, prevention

Forgiveness is essential

April 5, 2021 By Robert Saul

End Racism

Forgiveness is essential to human existence. The ability to forgive allows us to move on in our lives, progressing from childhood to adolescence to adulthood.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: forgiveness

Trust is the currency of social interaction

March 25, 2021 By Robert Saul

I don’t think it is an exaggeration to state that “trust is the currency of social interaction”—that trust is the basis of how we can make our words and deeds worthy of the privilege of serving others or the privilege of telling others of what we think they should be doing.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: social interactions, trust

COMMUNITY IS FAMILY

March 7, 2021 By Robert Saul

We must remember that our community is our family. Often when we think in ‘a business way’ we tend to lose sight of this big picture. We need to constantly remind ourselves that the real business of business is people.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: business, community improvement, family

Is Truth-telling Important?

February 27, 2021 By Robert Saul

Truth-telling is an essential skill for personal life, for interpersonal social interactions, for community activities, and for governmental decision-making.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: community improvement, truth

The lessons of tyranny for parenting

February 19, 2021 By Robert Saul

Being a tyrant is the exact opposite of being a conscious parent that understands the give-and-take of effective parenting and is willing to adapt as needed to change. Tyranny has no place in society or in parenting. The lessons put forth by Professor Snyder are valuable reminders as we navigate the journey known as parenting.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: parenting, tyranny

The Chemistry of Community Improvement

February 11, 2021 By Robert Saul

I don’t think that it is a stretch to think of community improvement efforts in chemical way. New and enhanced efforts can result from the combination of simple “reactions” by individuals or groups.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: community improvement, human chemistry

A Pediatric Profile in Courage

February 2, 2021 By Robert Saul

I bring the story of this brilliant yet exceedingly humble pediatrician to our attention as a reminder that the work of protecting and enhancing the physical, social, educational, family and psychological environments of our children and families is the ongoing work of ALL of us. 

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: courage, Dr. Mona Hannah-Attisha, Flint water

WHAT REALLY MATTERS

January 25, 2021 By Robert Saul

I often ask myself “what really matters?” as I contemplate the path forward…I can engage as a citizen (seeking to help others), as a truth-seeker (on a journey of life-long learning and continuous improvement) and as an elder (having acquired an array of life-long experiences and seeking to use those in a positive fashion). Not being engaged is really not an option.

Filed Under: Thoughts

Do Pediatricians retire from public service?

December 17, 2020 By Robert Saul

The work of helping our children and families is ongoing. It demands our continued efforts. For those of us that retire from the workforce, we should never withdraw from our commitment to children. I pledge to continue the work!

Filed Under: Thoughts

Science and early child development

November 29, 2020 By Robert Saul

There are so many variables to be identified and analyzed for early childhood development. These variables are essentially the pieces of the “jigsaw puzzle” of life but do not in and of themselves dictate the future. But these variables can help us anticipate certain issues, be proactive as needed, be reactive when needed and intervene with support when it is needed.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: childhood development, early childhood

“Our society isn’t fulfilling our promise to children”

November 2, 2020 By Robert Saul

The new AAP Blueprint for Children demands our full attention going forward. We can do no less.

Filed Under: Thoughts

CIVILITY MATTERS

October 11, 2020 By Robert Saul

Social discourse without civility is so ineffective and detrimental to our society.

Filed Under: Thoughts

Children as Our Teachers

September 27, 2020 By Robert Saul

Children are our best teachers! Listen and learn.

Filed Under: Thoughts

Foster Children Need Our Help

September 14, 2020 By Robert Saul

Children in foster care need our special attention and nurturing.

Filed Under: Thoughts

“Wasn’t me”

August 25, 2020 By Robert Saul

As we seek to solve current issues, a “wasn’t me” stance should be substituted with “was us”–and move forward.

Filed Under: Thoughts

Life-long learning – toward unconscious competence

August 8, 2020 By Robert Saul

Life-long learning is a guide to a life fulfilled.

Filed Under: Thoughts

Resilience is so important

July 3, 2020 By Robert Saul

The ability to receive help when we are down is key to developing resilience.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: Resilience, resiliency

Communal forgiveness

June 3, 2020 By Robert Saul

Social responsibility (to improve the lives of our fellow citizens and to right past wrongs) is integrally tied to forgiveness.

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: communal forgiveness, Social responsibility

Being better carpenters

May 25, 2020 By Robert Saul

“I don’t think that I can ever forgive you.”  “You don’t mean it.  You’re not really sorry.”  “When will you ever learn?”  Expressions such as these are repeated in households and workplaces everywhere every day of the week.  We humans are social beings, and social beings interact.  Interactions inevitably will lead to some conflict.  I think our ability to resolve those conflicts…

Filed Under: Thoughts

Captain Miller to Private Ryan – “Earn This”

May 8, 2020 By Robert Saul

So many sacrificed so much for all of us…

Filed Under: Thoughts

I have been truly blessed—thank you Mom, Julie and Mabel!

March 14, 2020 By Robert Saul

Mothers come in all forms—birth mothers, stepmothers, foster mothers, caregiving mothers (often grandmothers or aunts) and mothers-in-law. Whether assuming the role from birth or stepping in at various junctures in the life of the child/adult, these women play a vital role throughout our lives.

Filed Under: Thoughts

ANTI-RACISM SHOULD BE THE GOAL

March 1, 2020 By Robert Saul

Racism can be replaced with anti-racism

Filed Under: Thoughts

Capital Punishment is Just Plain Wrong—Thoughts from a Proud Flip-Flopper

February 7, 2020 By Robert Saul

Capital punishment is wrong in my opinion. And it’s been a tough journey for me to come to that conclusion.

Filed Under: Thoughts

Labels—Merchandise, yes; People, no

January 7, 2020 By Robert Saul

Labels

Labels are not for people.

Filed Under: Thoughts

Revisiting my father

December 13, 2019 By Robert Saul

Being mindful of those around us and accepting them and their humanity is so crucial to our lives. The lessons of Mr. Rogers are pertinent to me, at every stage of my life. His messages are certainly for more than children!

Filed Under: Thoughts

525,600 Seasons of Love

December 1, 2019 By Robert Saul

Abundant friends and love can make us “wealthy” and our lives fulfilled if we consider each minute (all 525,600 of them) in a year a chance to exhibit a season of love.

Filed Under: Thoughts

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