There is nothing that rings more true for a single mom. I chose to be a single mom. When I wasn’t married at 34 – and there were no prospects on the horizon – I decided I would go ahead and have a kid using a sperm donor. I also knew I would be on… More Blog Action Day 2012 – The Power of We is the Key to Successful Parenting
We attended one the best events about college finance and planning last night at Santa Cruz High School. Steven Shapiro (who I met with privately) had told me I needed to go and he was right. Lynn O’Shaughnessy was amazing. While Katie started to wear out, I think I could have stayed for another two… More The College Solution: Our Fantastic Evening with Lynn O’Shaughnessy
I just got back from the Take Back Santa Cruz walk to honor the memory of Shannon Collins. The sound of the bagpipes called us to the corner where she died and marched us through the streets of Santa Cruz to our destination: Camouflage, her store. There must have been a couple hundred people –… More Perspectives on a Memorial: Take Back Santa Cruz for Shannon Collins
Listen2Youth is pleased to support the 15th Annual Queer Youth Leadership Awards in Santa Cruz, California on May 12, 2012. The Queer Youth Leadership Awards recognizes queer youth and allies across Santa Cruz County for being leaders within their community. Being a leader encompasses many attributes and spans across all disciplines and activities. I have… More Advocating for Human Rights In Your Own Backyard
“Mom, you have to stop,” Katie tells me firmly but still calmly. Thank goodness she’s patient. “You know,” I said, “I think I am having an epiphany. I need to unlearn how to parent you. I have been doing these things since you were born and now I need to stop doing them. And that’s… More Unlearning Parenting
I turn 50 tomorrow. I was fine with it until about six months ago went it felt like everything went sideways. My best friend got breast cancer, I got a thyroid infection and suddenly mortality was scarier than any Freddy Kruger movie. So, being a writer, I had to make a list of 50 things… More They tell me 50 is the new 30. I don’t think so.
Tyler Headley is a sophomore attending high school in the Pacific Northwest. He writes for us about tech, the user experience and social media – and his ideas about making changes that match the lifestyle of today’s youth. If you have questions for Ty, please leave a comment below. When you walk into a… More Get Technology Off My Back: Teenage POV on the Need for Tech Integration
Um, no stopping in the red zone! Jeez. I am way too cool and too hip to be such a dud. I realized, while driving home from dropping off the kid at school, that there’s some insane super-ego voice in my head providing a constant narration of what everyone else is doing wrong. Don’t try… More Holy Crap! I’ve Turned into a Curmudgeon
Katie has never participated on a team sport. Yep. Totally true. She thought she might do soccer but on the free trial day, she was clobbered in the head and never went back. She kind of likes basketball but not enough to commit. Instead, she’s been a dancer and an artist. Now fast forward to… More An Open Letter to Team Sports Folks: Please Don’t Sacrifice the Virgins!
Patricia Heaton as Frankie Heck on ABC’s The Middle. I was extremely moved by the events in Arizona last weekend (and this week). I listened to President Obama’s speech, hanging on every word about the incredible people who died and those who survived the brutal attack. And I have been caught up in the national… More Out Here in The Middle: Changing America One Parent at a Time
I am talking pop-culture here. Those movies we have all seen that people reference in comedy routines. I am not worried about television right now (I know that’s another whole can of worms) but really looking for movies that kids should know about so they can relate to grown-ups! Post a comment here or tweet… More What Movies Should Every Kid See for “Cultural Intelligence”
Yeah, that’s a Menorah ANDa Christmas tree. We get around. Katie was groaning the other day about going to another holiday party. “I don’t hate the party mom, I hate all the dumb questions the adults ask me!” she lamented. I think I am one of those adults! It’s terrifying when you realize you have… More Five Things You Should NOT Ask the Kids This Holiday Season
Last year, Facebook was all the rage among the fifth grade crowd. Why? Farmville. No more no less – sending Mystery Gifts, planting crops and decorating the farm. Over time, Farmville got old (and they pretty much made it so complicated it’s no fun anymore anyway) and the kids got older. Yeah, I know, they… More Ahh Facebook: The Strange (Dangerous?) Case of Tweens Online
Katie’s home room teacher rocks. She not only teaching language arts, but she also brings in lots of life lessons – from drinking to college admissions to cutting. Yep, she brought it up in class and it was the first time Katie had ever heard of it. Turns out, there’s a cutter in her class.… More Relieving the Pain: When 11-Year Olds Start Cutting
Okay, so I need to say a bit more about grades. After my last blog about Katie’s addiction – which has been tempered, sorta – I find I am still stuck on the subject after watching a disaster in the making yesterday! I arrived at school a little early and decided to wait for Katie… More Report Cards Came Out Yesterday – Publicly. Do Students Have a Right to Privacy?