This coming week The Storyteller, 12 years old, is headed to Girls Rock Camp, a nonprofit organization that, according to their website: “builds girls’ self-esteem through music creation and performance. Providing workshops and technical training, we create leadership opportunities, cultivate a supportive community of peers and mentors, and encourage social change and the development of…
Look Up
Sitting in Starbucks getting some work done and I looked up to see an older man approaching the door. Just as I expected him to open the door to walk into the shop, he stuck his hand out and greeted the soldier in fatigues sitting by the door. Immediately the young man stood and the…
Hurting people hurt people- Banned Australian TV Ad
This ad was banned in Australia challenging adults that children see and do what adults do. I think it’s too bad it was banned, the message is one we need and the underlying issues ones that our shiny little worlds need to be rattled to explore but I can understand not wanting this played on…
Children are people too
Sitting on an airplane waiting to take off this morning and there was a cute little baby in the row right in front of me. He was not happy. It may have been his diaper, or maybe he was hungry, or scared. I don’t know and he was too young to be able to use…
Bonding over books
Reading. I’ve always been a reader since I learned how to read. Probably before then. Sharing this love with my children has been a complete joy. Seeing them share that joy with each other is even better. The bond they share over books grows stronger as they enjoy their favorites together. So many sweet memories.
Modeling Screwing Up
Yesterday I had a moment that I wasn’t proud of in my parenting. When I sat down the girls and apologized for how I behaved we talked about why I yelled and the issues I was struggling with behind it (lack of sleep, back pain, sad about sending Earth Baby off, frustrated with the…
Parenting – Beyond My Expectations
For me, being a parent has been both the most natural thing in the world, and the most bewildering. One moment, everything makes sense, relationships are simple, yet complex, utterly charming and meaningful, fulfilling even, and the next moment, I wonder how on earth I’m going to make it through the rest of the day…
Quick Thought About Parenting
It is often said that parenting doesn’t come with a handbook. There couldn’t be, because we are all unique individuals, and we each require a different parenting approach. This is no more obvious than in a larger family. When you have your second child, you quickly realize that all that confidence and parenting expertise you…
Two Wolf Sisters
A couple weeks ago our 12 year old Storyteller and 10 year old Lollie were struggling to get along. The tension and the expressions of that tension were making things… tense… in our home. After repeated journeys through the Peace Path and other attempts to help them resolve the conflict between them it reached…
Beyond PBS- kids, art, music, and culture OR 15 tips for sharing culture with children
Our family has long been steeped in the fine arts. Jeremy and I met in college as music majors, we both enjoyed drawing and painting classes as children, literature held a special place in both of our hearts, and even in the early days we enjoyed lingering over works of Rodin and Picasso. When we…