It’s a good time of the year for a little health check-up for your family. Mental and physical health are very closely tied, so it’s good to know how things stand with both aspects of your life.

In keeping with my article earlier this week, today’s focus is bullying and suicide. No doubt, this has been going on behind the scenes for some time. But in recent years, these suicides have gotten much more media attention.

It might just be a look. A kick. A “bump” in the hallway. Snickering around the corner. Bullying is often a pretty subtle game, but the consequences can be enormous.

I bring you this collection of resources on child death because of recent news reports in my state. Two wrongful child deaths in particular have had an impact on me and many others.

Tonight I read a reader comment about depression and responsibility that really made me think. What if a family member clearly has depression but doesn’t do much to make things work?

I know the 9/11 anniversary has already past, but my reflections have been spread out over much more than one day. In fact, much of it came late last night while talking with my kids and this morning when I was alone.

Earlier this week, I saw an article headline about bullying and jiu-jitsu. I finally read it and was pretty impressed.

Today a read a new comment on the post “When a Depressed Spouse Refuses Help” and was inspired to write a long response. It got long enough that I decided to make it a separate post for everyone to see more easily.

School finally started for us here and we’re still working on some transitions. Just checking in with you to see how you and your family members are adjusting to everything.

‘Tis the season for school transitions, and I’m running into a lot of clutter in my house. Clutter in the closets, clutter in the dressers, clutter in the garage, clutter in the storage room, even the laundry room and the pantry. Projects-in-progress, off-season clothes, clothes that don’t fit, the leftovers from the county fair – and I can easily imagine what it will be like when the constant influx of school papers starts soon.