Educated Parenting

Dr. Alvy.com

In addition to starting Educated Parenting, I also have recently created my own website, Dr.Alvy.com.

The purposes are to let organizations, school districts and corporations know that I am available to be hired as a consultant on a variety of matters, and especially on helping them design, develop, select and improve their own programs and services for the children, parents and families that they serve. 

Dr. Alvy.com also alerts such groups to the fact that I can be hired to speak at their conferences and events.  In addition, it mentions my continuing availability to the media to serve as a program consultant or guest.

Writing the different sections of the website has brought a variety of personal issues and feelings to the forefront, and I thought that visitors to Educated Parenting might be interested in hearing about and commenting upon them.

                                                                  

I have already begun doing this with a prior posting on Family Considerations and Shifting Careers where I shared what emerged as I wrote the section on my family of origin and my current family.

Right now I thought you might want to hear about some of the feelings that emerged out of writing about more than thirty years of developing programs and services for parents and families. 

Today Is for Mary

Today my wife, Mary, and I will be celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary this afternoon with family and friends at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

Here's what I will be saying when it's my turn to speak...

With a grateful nod to one of our favorite composers, Stephen Sondheim, let me begin by saying,

TODAY IS FOR MARY.  MARY, I PLEDGE YOU THE REST OF MY LIFE.

The first time I spoke publicly about my deepening love and respect for Mary was during our wedding ceremony a little over 25 years ago today.

Those of you who were there to hear us deliver our personally prepared vows know that right in the middle of mine I cried uncontrollably.

I was simply overwhelmed by the beauty and goodness of Mary and about the journey upon which we were embarking.

I am still overwhelmed by my extraordinary companion and by what we have chosen to do together.

Mary, you have grown more dear to me each day, through your loyalty and the genuineness of your commitment.

You have grown to be a more engaging and interesting person, a more supportive wife and friend, and someone I love being with.

We have been sharing and enjoying the truly amazing and richly rewarding experience of raising Lisa and Brittany, the two other most important persons in my life.

Without you, Mary, there would be no Lisa and no Brittany.

I am forever grateful to you for bringing them into our lives and for being such a great mother and friend to them.

And I am forever grateful to you for the best 25 years of my life!

So, once again, TODAY IS FOR MARY.  MARY, I PLEDGE YOU THE REST OF MY LIFE!

Family Considerations in Shifting Careers

Recently I made a career shift that involved creating my own website, Dr.Alvy.com.

On the website I have included background information about my family.

I feel it is important for the groups who may hire me to assist them with their child, family and parenting projects, or to speak about such matters at their conferences or on their media shows, that they know something about my family life.

Then it became a matter of what to reveal.

Such decisions were not my own, as they could affect my family members’ lives, and especially the lives of my wife and two daughters.