Cathy Tompkins

Help! We go through life relying on a variety of sources of trusted information and which sources we trust change over time. As small children, we rely on our parents and caregivers almost exclusively. Too soon, however, that trust gives way to what I consider a misguided struggle for autonomy. By misguided, I mean parents... Read More

We had to euthanize our sweet chocolate lab, Atlas, Monday. He was 15 and in lots of pain, barely able to walk, deaf, and almost blind. All of us attended the event at a local veterinary clinic. It was very gentle and respectful. Our 8 and 11 y/o girls weren’t sure they wanted to be... Read More

“We are not thinking machines, we are feeling machines that think.”  Antonio Damasio, MD, PhD in Descartes’ Error. We all come into the world with our unique temperament. Teachers have long understood that different children learn differently and respect these differences by giving students a variety of ways to express their understanding of concepts and... Read More