Posts Tagged: parenting
fear
Last Friday, when I heard the Sandy Hook news, it sent me into a tailspin. Along with the overwhelming sadness I felt the giant monster Fear sinking its arm down my throat to grip my stomach. I coped by hugging
fear
Last Friday, when I heard the Sandy Hook news, it sent me into a tailspin. Along with the overwhelming sadness I felt the giant monster Fear sinking its arm down my throat to grip my stomach. I coped by hugging
away
We’re going camping. Just the girls and me this time, no man to muscle and direct and do the dirty work. I’m sure I’ve forgotten something crucial and I don’t remember how to put up the tent, but we’ll manage.
Father’s Day
I’m reposting this story, a token of love and appreciation for J on Fathers’ Day, and for all you breadwinners who get the job done. * At first he didn’t mind the commute, even looked forward to having a little
Father’s Day
I’m reposting this story, a token of love and appreciation for J on Fathers’ Day, and for all you breadwinners who get the job done. * At first he didn’t mind the commute, even looked forward to having a little
update: rape is no joke
Because the last post elicited such an outpouring of support, I feel I must not leave you hanging. In a nutshell: the issue is bigger and more complex than imagined but so far, I am cautiously optimistic that everyone involved
update: rape is no joke
Because the last post elicited such an outpouring of support, I feel I must not leave you hanging. In a nutshell: the issue is bigger and more complex than imagined but so far, I am cautiously optimistic that everyone involved
casual rape
Last Friday at school, a boy walked up behind my daughter, put his hand on her shoulder and said, “Did you know that 99% of all rapes begin with some kind of casual contact?” Pause for a moment. Let it
casual rape
Last Friday at school, a boy walked up behind my daughter, put his hand on her shoulder and said, “Did you know that 99% of all rapes begin with some kind of casual contact?” Pause for a moment. Let it
calling crows (#15)
The other day my 75-year-old father came for a visit. My father and I have always lived close by but we’ve never been close. After my parents divorced when I was 6, he remarried and started a new family. I’d
calling crows (#15)
The other day my 75-year-old father came for a visit. My father and I have always lived close by but we’ve never been close. After my parents divorced when I was 6, he remarried and started a new family. I’d
room
My family and I live in a small house in a smallish city. Our home was built in 1903 with two stories, wood shingles, and a garage too small for our car. When friends visit from Tokyo or Manhattan, they
room
My family and I live in a small house in a smallish city. Our home was built in 1903 with two stories, wood shingles, and a garage too small for our car. When friends visit from Tokyo or Manhattan, they
The IQ Test (making friends with crows #13)
This is the 13th installment of my friendship with crows. Click here to start from the beginning. Watching an excellent PBS documentary about crows, A Murder of Crows, I was intrigued by Anna Braun’s study to test crows’ reasoning abilities. She
The IQ Test (making friends with crows #13)
This is the 13th installment of my friendship with crows. Click here to start from the beginning. Watching an excellent PBS documentary about crows, A Murder of Crows, I was intrigued by Anna Braun’s study to test crows’ reasoning abilities. She
Tossing Nuts Out the Window (Making Friends With Crows #11)
While driving my 11-year-old to her before-school chorus class, I spy a solitary crow atop a telephone pole. I keep a bag of roasted, unsalted peanuts in the car so that if we see any crows while we’re out, I
Tossing Nuts Out the Window (Making Friends With Crows #11)
While driving my 11-year-old to her before-school chorus class, I spy a solitary crow atop a telephone pole. I keep a bag of roasted, unsalted peanuts in the car so that if we see any crows while we’re out, I
yes (chapter 26, part 2)
When Lang opens the bedroom door, Eleanor is asleep with a smile on her face. Eleanor’s face with a man and a smile. Lang stands there gripping the doorknob, registering the small details that construct a larger impression:
yes (chapter 26, part 2)
When Lang opens the bedroom door, Eleanor is asleep with a smile on her face. Eleanor’s face with a man and a smile. Lang stands there gripping the doorknob, registering the small details that construct a larger impression:
Enormous Tree
Every year, the Christmas tree gets bigger. When our first daughter was born we got our first tree, a small one we decorated with jewelry and other shiny household whatnots since we didn’t own any ornaments. We didn’t even know
Enormous Tree
Every year, the Christmas tree gets bigger. When our first daughter was born we got our first tree, a small one we decorated with jewelry and other shiny household whatnots since we didn’t own any ornaments. We didn’t even know
I Am Not Your Baby; I Ate Your Baby!
(For Kenyon, on her 11th birthday) When my first daughter Kenyon was born eleven years ago, I knew I was in trouble. Or I should have known, if I’d read the signs. When the nurse took her over to the
I Am Not Your Baby; I Ate Your Baby!
(For Kenyon, on her 11th birthday) When my first daughter Kenyon was born eleven years ago, I knew I was in trouble. Or I should have known, if I’d read the signs. When the nurse took her over to the
Help! Summer is here!
(Shhh…) Help! My children have hijacked my life. It happens every year in June and lasts until September. They have duct-taped my laptop shut and cavort half-naked around it, brandishing plastic baseball bats and gardening tools and chomping the air
Help! Summer is here!
(Shhh…) Help! My children have hijacked my life. It happens every year in June and lasts until September. They have duct-taped my laptop shut and cavort half-naked around it, brandishing plastic baseball bats and gardening tools and chomping the air
Gimee, gimee, gimee! (8th installment of making friends with crows.)
I’d know that noise anywhere. Somebody wants something and they’re going to beg, beg, beg until they get it. Never mind that this somebody is not one of my own kids, never mind this somebody is, in fact, a bird:
Gimee, gimee, gimee! (8th installment of making friends with crows.)
I’d know that noise anywhere. Somebody wants something and they’re going to beg, beg, beg until they get it. Never mind that this somebody is not one of my own kids, never mind this somebody is, in fact, a bird:
Mothers Group (or Euphenasia)
Setting: Every Wednesday at ten o’clock they meet at Tot Land, a busy kiddy park packed with tricycles, play tables, and a huge mess of discarded plastic toys. Characters: Prudy (a red-headed Brit who hasn’t slept for more than four
Mothers Group (or Euphenasia)
Setting: Every Wednesday at ten o’clock they meet at Tot Land, a busy kiddy park packed with tricycles, play tables, and a huge mess of discarded plastic toys. Characters: Prudy (a red-headed Brit who hasn’t slept for more than four
dirty parts (first draft)
He doesn’t like to get his hands dirty. He’s more of a perma-press kind of guy with plastic in his collar and a sharp crease down his leg. The palms of his hands are soft and smooth, made for flipping
dirty parts (first draft)
He doesn’t like to get his hands dirty. He’s more of a perma-press kind of guy with plastic in his collar and a sharp crease down his leg. The palms of his hands are soft and smooth, made for flipping
girl in the hat 