In 1977, I came to Atlanta with an English Education degree. Looking for directions to an interview, I stumbled upon a building filled with mentally and physically handicapped adolescents and adults. That day inspired me to dedicate nearly a decade of my work teaching severely mentally handicapped individuals. Acquiring a Master’s degree in Special Education and developing rich relationships with the students enlightened me in the areas of behavior modification, human motivation, psychological development and more. I witnessed incredible change and transformation.
As my interest shifted to the caregivers of these individuals, I chose to counsel rather than teach. I began a private practice with a Masters in Counseling and Psychology Working with singles, couples and groups, my areas of study broadened to encompass career issues, stress management, neuropsychology, change strategies, substance abuse, self-esteem and relationships.
Five years into motherhood, with the birth of my third child, I chose to slow down and take a sabbatical from my private practice in an effort to “walk my talk.” Homemaking was, perhaps, the hardest job of all, and I was discontent with familiar strategies for managing family life. After all of my training, I couldn’t bear mundane manipulations like nagging, timeout and ad-hoc punishments. It didn’t seem to provoke lasting change, and I didn’t like who I was becoming as a result of it.
Mutual respect had worked in the business world and was called for in my faith. I wanted that in my home, and the path had to be simple. Simple enough that even a young child could understand. Along came Uncommon Sense. It is a lifestyle that enables healthy personal growth and inspires more love, faith, and freedom. With God’s help, I have taught it to many thankful families and individuals.