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Parenting Perspective and Associated Wisdom

By Stephen C. Schultz



The air was cool and heavy. The smell of stagnant water and the sounds of creatures that inhabit it echoed through the night in an orchestra of unfamiliar and hauntingly eerie sounds. My phone buzzed and I instinctively looked at the number. I stood and excused myself from the others around the table and stepped closer to the water’s edge, acutely aware that I may become a late night snack for an aggressive alligator whose zip code is Tampa Florida.


The number was my wife’s. I answered with a simple “Hello”. I felt there must be something wrong. It is unusual for me to get many calls from my wife when I am away on business. Especially when there is a time zone difference and there is a good chance I will be involved in meetings or business dinners. She is fiercely independent, smarter than me and capable beyond measure. So, when she does call, I am confident it’s not going to be small talk.


She mentioned that my daughter Emma was at volleyball practice and started having some seizure clusters. They were headed to the emergency room to make sure they are controlled and able to monitor Emma for any further complications. These are always complicated and heart wrenching situations. My daughter simply wants to be a “Normal” teenager doing normal teenage things. It’s difficult on parents too. Having raised three other children who are now married, independently responsible young adults, it easy to say…”We didn’t sign up for this.” But, the truth is, we really did. Parenting brings with it some incredibly joyful moments. It also brings some incredibly stressful and heart breaking moments. The hope is that the joyful times outweigh the heart breaking times!

Below I have posted a few of the most viewed articles on my blog. I hope you enjoy them and that they are presented in a way that is helpful and enlightening.

The Roller Coaster of Life

Navigating Life’s Pathways with Gratitude

An Open Letter to Parents Researching RedCliff Ascent

Navigating the Highway of Healthy Communication

Lessons I Learned from a Childhood Experience with Bullying

A Diagnosis is Not a Label. Building Resilience 
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