I grew up in a family that entertained a lot. There was always a random assortment of cheerful people hanging around on weekends and holidays. Somehow my mother always whipped up delicious snacks from what seemed like empty cupboards that held a handful of Brazil nuts languishing … [Read more...] about On Being a Guest
family
Connections Matter
The world is indisputably more connected than ever before. Yet paradoxically, we are also more disconnected. Face to face interactions are replaced by screens with time delay jerkiness and buffering. We don't inherently look people in the eyes, and parents are constantly … [Read more...] about Connections Matter
Fighting for All Women. Again and still.
Paid leave. Maternal healthcare. Choice. Affordable, quality child care. Breastfeeding rights. Pay equity. Ending violence and harassment. Access to healthy food, quality healthcare, education. Representation. And the exacerbation of all these issues when it comes to … [Read more...] about Fighting for All Women. Again and still.
Parenting Performance Review
There are no performance reviews or report cards in parenting. Generally speaking, in a job we get periodic reviews to let us know where we have room to improve and where we are excelling. In parenting, no such thing exists. I was told once in a review that I "need to learn to … [Read more...] about Parenting Performance Review
Aspen Institute’s Commission on Social , Emotional, Academic Development Has the Answers
Back in the 90s in my corporate days, my boss always talked about our “emotional intelligence.” He droned on and on about how our “EQ” was more important than our IQ. It sounded like corporate training mumbo jumbo back then, mostly because there was no direction to help us … [Read more...] about Aspen Institute’s Commission on Social , Emotional, Academic Development Has the Answers
Grateful for You
Every night before we eat dinner, we hold hands and share something we are thankful for from our day. There are no rules, except we can't be grateful for material things. Mostly the boys are thankful for doing well on a test or having a day off from school. Mac Daddy and I work a … [Read more...] about Grateful for You
Happy 14th Birthday, Bird
Dear Bird, You know I’m the sentimental type, right? My heart usurps my brain, for better or worse. You might not realize this yet, but you and I share the same constitution. I see so much of myself in you, the good bits and the not-so-good bits. We are both smarter than … [Read more...] about Happy 14th Birthday, Bird