The Perils of Christmas
Money, Children, Medicine and Health, Published, Essays Melissa Rooney Money, Children, Medicine and Health, Published, Essays Melissa Rooney

The Perils of Christmas

I love the Christmas decorations and songs that permeate offices, stores and homes. I love the legend of Santa Claus, who dedicates his life to the service of others. And I think it is important to remember and teach our kids about Jesus, if not as the Son of God, then as a most significant historical, political and spiritual figure and the cornerstone of the world's largest religion. But each year I have increasingly conflicted feelings about Christmas and the hypocritical way it's celebrated…

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Homeowners Hung Out to Dry

Homeowners Hung Out to Dry

… The legalities surrounding stormwater issues are gray at best. Apparently, the state owns the water, the city owns the pipes and streams (though even that is debatable), and the property owners own the land. So who is accountable when stormwater redirected by private developers damages property downstream?…

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Starting Over with Clover

Starting Over with Clover

… My clover and abundant flowering plants aren’t just pretty; they hold the soil in place, naturally filter storm water before it flows into Jordan Lake, and absorb rain water that will otherwise flood or turn my yard to quicksand. Cisterns and rain-barrels enable even more water and nutrients to be recycled where I want them…

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The Importance of Repetition
Children, Education, Published, Children's Books, Essays Melissa Rooney Children, Education, Published, Children's Books, Essays Melissa Rooney

The Importance of Repetition

If you want your kids to digest the information in a book, you have to read it more than once. And it’s always best if you read it *together*. Many teaching styles are based on engaging repetition, including those of well-known Shinichi Suzuki. My hope is that you will approach my children’s books in this way as well.

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Short-Changing Babies — A Presentation for the Perinatal Quality Collaborative of North Carolina (PQCNC)
Published, Essays, Medicine and Health, Children Melissa Rooney Published, Essays, Medicine and Health, Children Melissa Rooney

Short-Changing Babies — A Presentation for the Perinatal Quality Collaborative of North Carolina (PQCNC)

Whether or not it’s true, a lot of people think that the reason such discussion doesn’t happen is because doctors nowadays are under pressure to see so many patients per day that they simply don’t have or take the time to engage their patients and truly question and inform them regarding their medical decisions. Furthermore, the medical business has become such a business that patients are too often seen as paying clients who deserve a significant level of customer service. In other words, their patients should get what they want as long as it doesn’t put the business in more danger of litigation…

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Lessons from Down Under

Lessons from Down Under

… Last month we returned to Melbourne with our kids. I couldn’t help comparing Melbourne and Durham, and in the process Australia and America, and noting things that would improve our county and country. I have a two-page list but have space here for only two of the most far-reaching comparisons …

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Will the East Coast Learn Anything from Hurricane Florence?

Will the East Coast Learn Anything from Hurricane Florence?

In the wake of Hurricane Florence, one question plagues me (again): Are we going to spend hundreds of millions of dollars in FEMA and other public emergency funds to rebuild homes along the hurricane-battered coast, only so we can do it all over again when the next hurricane/tornado hits? Or will we finally adopt the common-sense, economically sustainable long-term solution: Don't Build/Rebuild Along the East Coast?

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The UNC Science Expo – Reuniting Our Left and Right Brains

The UNC Science Expo – Reuniting Our Left and Right Brains

…As I tell kids, we are all born scientists. Our experiential knowledge is a blank slate, and we delight in the experiments and rational conclusions we conduct in order to live in this world. But we tend to lose this delight as we age, which is sad on so many levels…

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