Posts by Janai Mestrovich

Conversation with a 4 yr. old about health

March 7, 2013 Child Wellness 0 Comments

Friday lunch with grandie, Grayson: “Grandma, how’s your health?” I stopped chewing, rather surprised to hear that question pop out of his mouth so matter-of-fact. “My energy is good, Grayson, thanks for asking.” “Grandma, when I eat good food I pick up my toys faster for Mom and Dad. Water

Read More

The Breathing Sphere

March 3, 2013 Child Wellness 0 Comments

I’ve used small and large ones for decades teaching children and also adults how to demonstrate what the belly does inhaling and exhaling deep breaths. One day Grayson wanted to go inside the sphere, took some deep breaths and said they made him feel like sleeping, so he laid down

Read More

Savor the fleeting precious moments

February 15, 2013 Connecting with Children 0 Comments

Grayson called to me and asked, “Grandma, will you be my valentine?” I turned around to see this precious face inside one of my table valentine decorations he’d picked up. A Living Card! Of course, I told him I’d love to be his valentine which brought a mile wide smile

Read More


Getting bad feelings out with play dough

January 25, 2013 Children and Stress 0 Comments

The green glob in Grayson’s hand is the playdough I instructed him to use to get his bad feelings out when he was having difficulties this morning managing them appropriately. I asked him why he was holding his nose. He said, “Because good feelings smell good and bad feeling smell

Read More

Positive Thinking On Aging Helps Seniors Heal: Study

November 21, 2012 Positive Thinking Makes Lemonade 0 Comments

Does seeing the glass half full mean you will be healthier later in life? A growing body of evidence suggests that positive thinking does correlate with less illness and longer lives. And, if you’re already older, having a positive outlook appears to be especially important. A new study has found

Read More

For the Children…..in all of us

October 31, 2012 Connecting with Children 0 Comments

Halloween Parade, Ashland, Or. 2012 Doing fun things to delight children, like being an Autumn Fairy in a Halloween parade, can touch the inner child in big kids, too! Being creative, having fun…..what all inner and outer kids love to do!

Read More


Ashland Loves a Parade

July 5, 2012 Publicity 0 Comments

By Sam Wheeler Ashland Daily Tidings July 05, 2012 The far-off hiss of an approaching F-15 fighter jet snatched the attention of paradegoers lining Ashland’s main drag for a glimpse of its annual and well-known Fourth of July Parade Wednesday. A burst of whistles, hoots and hollers from the crowd

Read More

Creative Fun Teaching

June 12, 2012 Parenting Young Children 0 Comments

FB post from my son: Mom’s teaching methods have some interesting moments. And, yes, this is one of my University of Oregon classes on Empowering Children. You can’t imagine! Ya just have to be there! 🙂

Read More