“Don’t glue your brother! I MEAN it!” Most days you give a crap. You really do. You make sure no one does anything that could directly lead to bleeding from the ears or grand larceny. You don’t Helicopter Parent—who has the energy for that, anyway?—but you spew a nonstop stream of dialogue at the kids […]
The Cheerleader
There’s always at least one of us at every kids’ sports game or match. Yes, we are loud and enthusiastic. Yes, our voices carry. Yes, our hands clap particularly loudly. Yes, the whole gym/court/field can hear us rooting for our kid’s team, our kids, their teammates. We are aware of all of this. Your discomfort […]
How to Live in This World
Five years ago I could not breathe as I listened to the radio during errands. When I got home, I wrote down what was in my head to get it out. I needed it out. That same day it was published on The Huffington Post before we got all the details. It has been five […]
11 Life Lessons My Kids Learned from SpongeBob SquarePants
I like SpongeBob SquarePants. Yes, some parents roll their eyes when asked, “Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?” or visibly cringe at his laugh, but I think he’s pretty great. So I’ve always let my kids watch him. I’ve bought them giant mylar balloons of him for birthdays. I’ve sung along to his […]
We Are the Helpers and It Is Time to Do Our Job
Not long ago, I found myself yet again surrounded by a bevy of kids. Only a small percentage were mine. (This happens a lot once you become a parent.) It was loud. They were in constant motion. They were making me laugh. Then out of nowhere, a ball flew into the group from behind me […]
When They Begin to Understand
My son started 8th grade last week. He told me on the way home from school on Friday that he had an assignment: to interview someone at home about 9/11. Upon my expression he said he’d ask Dad if I didn’t want to do it. But I did. He needed to see me talk about […]
No Means No. Stop Means Stop.
Much of my life—especially the first 25 years—has been spent having people not listen to my “No”s when they mattered the most. Showing respect is a very easy thing to do, but you have to believe you are equal to the other person to show it. Believe the other person’s wishes are important, valid. Every […]
I Will Not Always Get to Do This
I look over to my right and see her eyes are closed. Gently, I lean over, confirming that her usually wildly expressive face and chatty mouth have gone soft with sleep. It crept in at some point during the movie while I was distracted, pressing on her until she couldn’t fight anymore, urging her to […]
People Who Should Not Have Kids (According to the Internet This Week)
I learn a lot from comment threads on the internet. Helpful things, like recipes, books my kids might like to read, how I shouldn’t be a mother. Stuff like that. I figured you might be busy today, so I scrolled through some of the things commenters have said in various comment threads on articles about […]
Why I Am Okay with My Daughter Being Heartbroken Over a Girl Named Ruby
A little girl named Ruby is breaking my daughter’s heart, and I’m okay with that. Her third grade class is watching the movie Ruby Bridges, the true story of a little African-American girl who integrated an all-white school in New Orleans by herself in 1960, per court order. My daughter and her peers view it […]