Dr. Marshall has written for scientific journals, magazines such as Canadian Living and Parent-to-Parent, and newspapers. A list of journal papers is contained in his Curriculum Vitae.
If you would like to read one of his recent articles, please select from the left:

Spoiled Rotten?

Eavesdropping

A World of Their Own

Cooking for Kids

Work - Does It Build Character?

The Barbeque

Continued
  The barbecue stood in the backyard for many years. The self-igniter never worked, but no one even thought of drawing lots to see who would point this out to Dad. I'm sure Mrs. Gabel would have fixed it, but Mom must have decided that a demonstration of how easy the task could have been would threaten the stability of the peace and harmony that had returned to the house. She quietly bought a large supply of long wooden matches and nothing was ever said about the large, protruding red button that served no purpose, except perhaps to remind Dad of one of his darkest hours.

  "Never again!" was a wish not to be fulfilled. Although I cannot remember Dad actually expressing a wish to become competent in the fix-it sphere, I suspect he entertained this fantasy. Over the years he must have ventured into most of the trades. I don't want to sound uncharitable, but not a single success comes to mind. I do remember his attempts at plumbing, each one followed by an urgent telephone call and a visit from the ever-patient and understanding Mr. Porter who would try to pass along the fundamentals of the blow torch or snake. I also recall his obvious desire to ensure that we would not follow in his footsteps. My sister developed an interest in fixing things, so father and daughter went to the local hardware store to purchase her very own tool box. He explained the operation of the multi-head screwdriver and how to use a hammer without inflicting too much personal injury. Having passed on his accumulated wisdom to the next generation she was left to carry on as best she could.

  I have never been able to subscribe to the maxim, " you can do anything you put your mind to." I am grateful to my father for teaching me that as much as effort and determination are admiral qualities, they do not necessarily compensate for lack of talent. We all have gifts, but we also have natural impediments. Dealing with success is hardly a challenge; we shower praise on our children for their accomplishments and make them aware of their strengths and abilities. But they won't always meet their goals. Failure is surely a fact of life. I am not suggesting that we make a point of highlighting one another's deficiencies or refrain from challenging ourselves and our children. Self-esteem that is based only on being successful, however, is hard to maintain. I have never asked him, but I am confident that my father liked being who he was, even though he possessed faults that were beyond redemption. He tolerated failure in himself--not always with good grace, but his rank incompetence entitled him to vent his frustration.

   I spent several years working at a university counselling service. I met many students who were struggling with the demands of a far more challenging academic environment than they had encountered at high school. Those who seemed particularly vulnerable were the young men and women who had become accustomed to being "stars." Their many achievements had been earned and they had every reason to be proud of their awards and accolades. But they had not learned to deal with failure. Their first bombed math test was a devastating experience and my task was to convince them that their chances of a having productive and worthwhile life were not completely eliminated. I toyed with the concept of offering a course on how to fail, but could never decide if a passing mark would have to be below or above fifty. My own course came naturally and some day I may even buy a barbecue and see how well I learned the lesson.