When Puberty Meets Menopause: The Hair Edition. (published first in "My Life as a Parent" column, PARENTWISE AUSTIN) Last week I chatted with our 17-year old son whom we'll call Deathmetal and his friend C-Squirrel in the kitchen after school. Deathmetal and C-Squirrel play electric guitar for a screamo band named for French pirates, and the band practices regularly in our basement. Ever had...
This teen was raised by Mrs. Clean. (You'd just never know it.) I admit it. My memory for names and facts is frequently impaired these days (feels a lot like the seasons when I was preg-o-licious). Definitely hormonal pre-menopausal voodoo. Still. I’m fairly certain our teen son was not raised by wolves. One of the most annoying questions he asks is "Why do I have to...
Tips toDeal With Whiny Kids. 770 words “I NEEEEEEED ANOTHER BROWNIE!” “IT HURTS. I CAAAAAN’T HAVE THIS SEATBELT ON!” “JORDAN TOOK THE RED ONE! I WAAAAANT RED!” Ahhhhh. Classic rants of whine country. For many parents, these rants have become the whine of daily life, and it ain’t no Pinot Noir! Preschoolers are especially famous for whinery woes; and tweens? Well, I can...
Stimulating conversations are rampant in this mom's SUV. All my kids are geniuses. I have proof. During last night’s carpool to a high school dodgeball game, this brilliant exchange between my 14-year-old son, J. and his three friends ensued in my SUV. Friend w/ Elijah Wood peepers: Dude—I love the pockets in these jeans. Your hands like totally don’t get stuck in them or whatev....
All aboard bad mommy's freedom train. My son J. is fifteen. He and the rest of his shaggy-haired, Generation Text posse are adorable right now. The MySpacers listen to Screamo. They skate, snowboard, and videotape each other’s backflips. They value the hotness of high school girls but truly value each other more. With ninth grade just about under their belts, they have been...
It is a pleasure to contribute to the lovely zine Chic Mom, the brainchild of editor Darcy Plunkett. When Darcy and I began corresponding a couple years ago, we immediately hit it off. She is one cool and chic mama who honors self-expression and diversity and even Twilight (right, Darcy?). I felt my pieces would be safe and treasured at Chic Mom and that...
Math is one of those really prickly issues with kids and adults alike. I rarely run into people who LOVE math. It's like they hate it, or they're sort of indifferent. But I've devoted years to tutoring the subject and routinely write articles for magazines like Kansas City Parent which aim to help families. Here's an article to read if you're curious.So just HOW...
Be intentional in your efforts to connect right now. by Michele Ranard, M.Ed. 940 words Connecting as a family should be simpler than ever. But somehow our hectic lives and work schedules trip us up. Some of us go days without a hug. Days! We must make time for more nurturance. We Have a Wii—But We Need a ‘We’ Clinician Michael Ungar discusses...
The parenting and education pieces I write are not chosen randomly and are rarely assigned. I write what I know. I write often about things our family has personally experienced. I write from the heart and hope someone will be helped by it.This article WHEN YOUR CHILD SAYS 'I'M DUMB' is a perfect example. For a good stretch of time our son struggled with...
A little ditty I wrote about doodling was published in at least ten parenting zines including Northstate Parent, a great zine dedicated to serving families in California. Turns out, doodling has all sorts of benefits we're only beginning to understand. Read the piece here. A little ditty I wrote about doodling was published in at least ten parenting zines including Northstate Parent, a great zine dedicated to...
Gum and good news to chew on.Recent research on the favorable (and flavorable!) benefits of chewing gum may thrill your child but aggravate school custodians. After all, standard “no gum” policies in the classroom tend to spell more tidy, goo-free carpets and floors. Brace yourself, Mr. and Ms. Janitor. Because some educators are re-examining the gum policy. Why? This is Your Brain on...
