KATHRYN R. BIEL: AUTHOR

Last night my husband and I had the opportunity to escape for quick, impromptu date night and go to the movies. Often not agreeing on movies, we settled on the new Quentin Tarantino film Django,Unchained. Generally I am a fan of Tarantino films although they tend to be over the top in their graphic goriness and bloodiness. This one was no exception. The subject matter was harsh, the language was explicit and the blood was flying. It is, in no doubt, and R rated film. But the most horrifying moment of the night occurred before the film even started. It was an 8 o'clock film with a running time of two hours 45 minutes. After adding in previews a conservative estimate of ending time of the film would be about 11 PM (it was late for me to be out especially having worked all afternoon). Just moments before the start of the show, a couple came in and sat in the seats directly next to us.  With their young child, approximately 18 months-old.  Pat and I looked at each oth...

In homes across the country, and I assume the world, the stress levels have peeked.  Christmas is TOMORROW!  Moms are in full blown panic mode.  (Except, of course for those who are all set. For the record, I don't like you.)  We have run around like chickens with their heads cut off for the last five weeks.  We have poured over sale fliers trying to find just the right gift at the best price.  Then, about a week ago, we said "screw it" and paid more money just for the sake of not having to go to another  store. We're up to our elbows in wrapping paper and bows and cookie dough.  We've had lots of late nights with one more to go.  If I could receive sleep wrapped under the tree tomorrow, I'm pretty I would be very happy. The events of the last few weeks have helped me figure out why I go through this every year.  Magic.  I want to give my kids magic.  They are children for such a short time.  Innocence is lost earlier ...

Normally, I look forward to going to sleep each night, but especially on Mondays.  Going to bed tonight is going to age me a year.  Sometime in the wee hours of the morning (ok, 2:54 am to be exact), I'm going to turn a year older.  I'm going to be, gulp, 37.  That's officially late 30's.  How did that  happen?  Most days, I don't feel a day over 50. I have more lines on my face.  My freckles are no longer cute.  And they're getting larger.  And they can kind of be called age spots at this point.  My joints hurt some of the time.  I make involuntary grunting noises when  squatting down or standing up. But I'm sort of ok with it.  I'm at a good point in my life right now.  My kids are great ages, especially during this holiday season.  I like my job and think that I have enough experience now that people kind of, sometimes respect what I have to say.  My husband and I have worked through the ups and ...

The events of Sandy Hook are truly, truly horrible.  I'm having trouble even formulating words and thoughts about the atrocities that took place.  My heart breaks for the parents of those twenty children, and for the families of the valiant adults who, no doubt, tried to protect the innocent lives. Social media is on fire right now with talk about gun control.  That tighter gun control could have prevented this.  That now is the time for increased gun control.  That increased gun control is the answer. But what I do not hear anyone talking about is mental illness.  I have to believe that the man who did this was mentally ill.  Because if he were not, he was soulless and evil, and I cannot believe that a person like that actually exists in this world.  In this country, we do not have adequate health care for people with mental illness, especially severe mental illness.  The largest clearing house for people with significant menta...

Every so often, things do not go how you expect.  Like when I deliver bad news, and it is awesome. Yep, you got that right, awesome. There was the time I told a mom that I thought her child needed a wheelchair.  When I said it, she paused, and there was an intake of breath.  She listened to the reasoning and rationale.  She listened when we reiterated that is was her decision, not ours.  She listened to the pros and cons.  She listened to the process.  She listened to me when I explained how it would help her child and her family.  She listened when I explained how I could help her.  And then she told me to go ahead and do it.  Awesome. This is one of the crappy, but often unspoken parts of my job.   In the schools, my job is to make sure that kids can access their education in a safe and efficient manner.  Physical therapy in the schools is not designed to meet all the therapeutic needs of a student, but rather...

So, it's December again.  Which means one thing...MY BIRTHDAY!!! No, seriously, it's that busy Christmas season where the words 'chaotic' and 'cacophony' can be used almost daily.  The moms I know are running around, even more frenzied and harried than usual.  The dads must still believe in Santa, because suddenly, Christmas has been delivered to their house.  Even though Thanksgiving was early this year, there never seems to be enough time (ie, weekends) leading up to the big day. I gotta admit...I love the lights.  I love the way my house looks all decorated.  I hate taking the stuff down, not just because it's a lot of work, but because my perfectly respectable house looks dull and blah afterwards.  I love that the kids plug the tree and indoor lights is every night.  There is just something indescribably peaceful about sitting in a room lit only from the soft glow of the golden Christmas tree lights. Singing Christmas songs...