Parenting has been life changing. I’ve raised a kid as a single-mom by choice who used a sperm donor. We had adventures, learned some lessons and had a great time. Katie went to different schools that did and didn’t work. I worked with parents along the way to provide Katie with lots of different experiences. We traveled the state of California and beyond. I was committed to living small so she could learn large.
“I was having fun; why are you so mad at me?!” You’re tired, the kids are wired, and it seems like saying “no” is all you do. Welcome to crunch time – when jumping on the couch, running around a store, and touching everything is the perpetual motion of every child! This is when we’re… More Video Tip: Stop Saying “No”
At some point – and I could go figure out when this happened but it pretty much doesn’t matter – we took Driver’s Education out of our schools. Stupidest move ever. If you aren’t aware, here’s how our kids learn to drive today. 1. They take an online course to get a certificate. This is… More Teen Driving: How We Shot Ourselves in the Head in California
Katie is finally a junior and this summer she got her license. That means I don’t have to drive her around anymore. That means I am free. The result, I’m trying new things and having some adult fun once again. And, in my 53rd year, I’ve discovered three things that are keeping me very happy.… More The Joys of Midlife: A Kid that Can Drive and Three Things…
Look closely at that photo: On Friday she was barfing her guts out with the 24 hour flu; the bucket’s still there but now it appears papers are what’s been barfed out. What a way to study! I think the greatest testament to the first year of high school is the fact that I haven’t… More Someone Get Me a Xanax, It’s Finals Time
You can’t have her, she’s alllll mine…. A good friend of mine remembers his adolescence amazingly well. As I described to him the changes going on with my 14 year old daughter, a freshman in high school, he said, “It’s like she just got off the bus in the middle of Times Square. She is… More Just Got Off the Bus in Times Square
Last Monday Katie started a week of Crunchy Camp – that was her nickname for the workshop she was attending at the Resource Center for Nonviolence called Exploring Your Social Justice Community. She really enjoyed herself. It turns out it wasn’t a youth workshop (that’s on me, I misread the description) so she was with… More Workshop at the Santa Cruz Resource Center for Nonviolence
Alex and Katie: Separated at Birth? Now that Katie’s home from her last great adventure (and has clearly slept more than any Koala Down Under), it’s time for her to re-engage with humanity in a constructive way. Tomorrow she starts a week of learning about social justice at a student workshop called Exploring Your Social… More What if Alex P Keaton Attended a Nonviolence Workshop in Santa Cruz?
It was so easy. All I had to do to lure them away was send them a text. And then they were mine! Much to Katie’s chagrin – she really can’t complain, she’s off storming the South Pacific with People to People – I swiped her friends and took them to a food fest at… More It’s True, I Love Stealing Other People’s Children
If you have been living under a rock or simply been too busy working or listening to the kids squabble, you could have missed YOLO. (You can watch this Jimmy Kimmel video to help you feel better about being so out of touch). It’s the current excuse to do anything you would normally not do… More LTS is the YOLO for the Over Forty Crowd
Yeah, it sounds nuts. What the heck am I talking about? When I learned a long time ago that neuron connections are vital for a rich, healthy brain, it became my focus. I wanted to make sure that when I took information, I was building new connections and hopefully improving my ability to retain what… More Every Body Eats! Unleashing Katie’s Passion for Learning
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
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
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