We did private school, public school, home school, junior high, high school, private school, junior college, and holy smokes, it was all a hot mess.
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?
I was there the first time she used. I actually gave her access to her drug without realizing what I was doing. And it took just a few times to get her hooked. I was a complete enabler. This fall, my daughter became dangerously addicted to grades. If I hadn’t watched Race to Nowhere last… More My Daughter Became an Addict in Sixth Grade
The coolest thing happened yesterday. I didn’t expect it to be cool. I thought it was going to be a nightmare. But man, it turned out awesome. Imagine, it’s Monday: the day after Halloween (where we somehow picked up two extra kids along the way who ended up back at our house to watch the… More Students Helping Students: They Can Lift Each Other Up (Academically)
I love Halloween. It’s colorful, creative and usually good fun. But there are weird conversations going on this year about making rules for how old kids can be who want to trick or treat – like no one over 14 should be allowed to go house to house (can you imagine being the cop who… More Restore Sanity to Halloween: The Ultimate Socialist Holiday!