Author Archives: Andrea R Huelsenbeck

About Andrea R Huelsenbeck

Andrea R Huelsenbeck is a wife, a mother, a grandmother, and a former elementary general music teacher. A freelance writer in the 1990s, her nonfiction articles and book reviews appeared in Raising Arizona Kids, Christian Library Journal, and other publications. She is currently working on a middle grades novel and a poetry collection.

Why and How to Read to your Baby…by ARHuelsenbeck

Posted on October 28, 2016 by Andrea R Huelsenbeck

All five of my children knew how to read by the time they entered kindergarten. Are they incredibly brilliant? Yes. But more than anything else, I attribute their early grasp of a complicated but vital skill to the fact that … Continue reading →

Posted in Babies, Books, Family Life, Learning New Skills, Parenting, Reading | Tagged Reading to babies, Story time | 4 Comments

What’s in a Name? by ARHuelsenbeck

Posted on September 23, 2016 by Andrea R Huelsenbeck

Most parents agonize over what to name their precious babies. They recognize names are an important part of our identities. Your name influences others’ perceptions of you. As a child, I hated my name. It was too different. Most girls … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Stories, Humor, Parenting | Tagged Baby names, Doing Life Together, Naming children | 9 Comments

When I Was Your Age…by ARHuelsenbeck

Posted on August 26, 2016 by Andrea R Huelsenbeck

So many things have changed radically in my lifetime. I never wanted to be one of those oldsters who feels compelled to tell the younger generations how much more difficult life was back in the day, but it’s getting harder … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Memoir, Nostalgia | Tagged memoir, The Good Old Days | 5 Comments

Creative Playground…by ARHuelsenbeck

Posted on July 22, 2016 by Andrea R Huelsenbeck

One of my fondest childhood memories is of the hours I spent at the playground in the park near my New Jersey home in the 1950s. Two ancient swing sets stood in the shade of mature trees, their massive wooden seats fastened … Continue reading →

Posted in Creativity, Doing Life Together, Play | Tagged children, Playgrounds | 7 Comments

Why I Love the United States of America…by Andrea R Huelsenbeck

Posted on June 24, 2016 by Andrea R Huelsenbeck

As the two-hundred-fortieth birthday of our country approaches, it’s appropriate to consider what it means to be an American. Personally, I am thankful to be a citizen of the United States, proud to be a part of what it stands for. … Continue reading →

Posted in United States of America | Tagged #everydayinspiration, Independence Day, patriotism | 4 Comments

Don’t Rain on My Parade…by Andrea R Huelsenbeck

Posted on May 27, 2016 by Andrea R Huelsenbeck

Lately, incidents long past, things I haven’t thought about for a half-century or longer, are popping into my memory. When I was in second grade, my mother signed me up for Brownies. Meetings were held in Borough Hall, a community … Continue reading →

Posted in Celebrations, Doing Life Together, Family Life, Life, Memoir, Mom, Parenting, War | Tagged Brownie Scouts, celebrations, Childhood, children, family stories, memoir, Memorial Day, Parades, traditions | 5 Comments

A Photo a Week Challenge: Towers

Posted on May 12, 2016 by Andrea R Huelsenbeck

I enjoy following Nancy Merrill’s Photo a Week Challenge, and this week’s theme, towers, reminded me of my old high school, Rumon-Fair Haven Regional. The central clock tower of the building served as a symbol of our school. Its image graced … Continue reading →

Posted in photography | Tagged High school, memoir, postaday, Towers | 1 Comment

If I Had My Life to Live Over

Posted on April 22, 2016 by Andrea R Huelsenbeck

Today is the twentieth anniversary of Erma Bombeck’s death. Originally posted on ARHtistic License.

Posted in Doing Life Together, Life, Regrets, Remembering | Tagged Erma Bombeck, Poetry | 1 Comment

The Sweetest Sound

Posted on March 25, 2016 by Andrea R Huelsenbeck

In a doctor’s office waiting room, a serene young mother interacts with her approximately one-year-old daughter. The toddler walks back and forth between her mom and other enticing areas of the room, examining toys, scrambling up on an empty chair. … Continue reading →

Posted in Babies, Brain research, Doing Life Together, Grandparenting, Life, Love, Parenting | Tagged children, Doing Life Together, sharing life, Speaking to babies, Teaching babies language | 4 Comments

Ideal…by Andrea R Huelsenbeck

Posted on February 26, 2016 by Andrea R Huelsenbeck

In response to The Daily Post prompt: Teen Age Idol When I first read this prompt, it sparked a memory from my childhood. When I was about eight years old, my mother asked me to identify an ideal—a person who epitomized characteristics … Continue reading →