There was no “gentle parenting” in the ’70s, especially at the dinner table. You either ate what was prepared for you, or you were labeled a sniveling, spoiled brat who didn’t care if children in China starved because you wouldn’t eat your meatloaf. One time, I was forced to stay at the table until I’dContinue reading “Foods That Ruined My Childhood”
Tag Archives: children
It Takes a Village
Women who work outside the home are supernatural shapeshifters. One minute they’re closing the deal on a $5-million property and the next minute they’re on the phone with their 5-year-old daughter who’s upset because the parakeet won’t talk to her. I think we can agree women are in the workplace. I think we can agreeContinue reading “It Takes a Village”
Making the grade
When my kids were little, I did a bit of substitute teaching. After I accidentally threw an encyclopedia and flipped a desk over, I realized teaching elementary school probably wasn’t for me. Teachers are comprised of strong stuff. The molten lava that flows through their veins gives them courage and an unbreakable gaze. A skeletonContinue reading “Making the grade”
The Sound of Silence
Each year, nearly 6,000 children in the United States are treated for gunshot wounds. Every. Single. Year.
When our children are wounded by guns, there’s only silence from legislators who are supposed to protect them.
Things We Forget
There was a time, before we got all jaded and grumpy, that our main purpose was to have fun. As kids, we jumped out of bed every morning, eager to find the best ways to a) get candy, b) meet friends, c) watch cartoons and d) avoid chores at all costs. We had it allContinue reading “Things We Forget”
A Brief History of Children
When silly, old Eve chose wisdom over nudity in the garden of Eden, what was her punishment? That she would be fruitful and multiply. In non-biblical words, she was doomed to have children. Seems like the penalty didn’t really fit the crime. Did she understand, as she grew rounder and larger and moodier, that a parasitic growth wasContinue reading “A Brief History of Children”
The TRUE Cost of Having Children
The Department of Agriculture recently announced it takes $250,000 to raise a child through high school. Why the Dept. of Agriculture? Because children are similar to vegetables. I think this estimate is severely low. Having raised four daughters, here are some expenses I don’t think the researchers took into account: Home repairs including, but not limitedContinue reading “The TRUE Cost of Having Children”
To Hell and Back
Remember those field trips in first grade where the bus smelled like urine, the children screamed songs and teachers were frazzled? Well, I just relived that experience when I chaperoned my grandson’s class to the aquarium. (There was NOT a Loch Ness monster in our aquarium. Feeling gypped.) Now, my grandson is perfect. That’s allContinue reading “To Hell and Back”
Happy Whoreoween
(This is scarier than any horror movie.) Helping little girls grow up too quickly, costume companies have sexed-up Halloween costumes for grade school children. Last year, third-grade girls came to my door wearing belly shirts, mini-skirts, fishnet stockings and lipstick. Isn’t there a vice squad created to prevent this? Where’s CSI: SVU when you need them? HalloweenContinue reading “Happy Whoreoween”
Top 5 Reasons I Worry About the Future
Children are our future. Of course, with Congress right now, children are also our present. Have we done a good job teaching our kids what they need to know to run this world? Here are some potential stumbling blocks that maybe should be addressed before the kids take over: 1. No communication skills. This generationContinue reading “Top 5 Reasons I Worry About the Future”
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