Archive for July, 2010

Job Description for Parents

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

So what if, instead of being something you do because you want to or because you have kids, parenting was something you did for a living?  What if it were your career, something you trained for and then looked for just the right situation?  You’d have to read job listings, check the online websites, network with friends and colleagues.  You’d have to go through a lot of job postings to find the one that was just right for you.  But what exactly would that position look like?  How would the job description read?  Perhaps it would look something like this: (more…)

Things Parents Say

Sunday, July 18th, 2010

“No, you may not push your brother down the stairs.”

Parent stopping an older brother who was pushing the stroller when he came to a stairway.

Have you heard yourself saying something crazy to your spouse or to your kids? Has someone said something to you that, in retrospect, seems completely off-the-wall? Let us know!

Four-Letter Television Coming Soon

Friday, July 16th, 2010

Like a lot of parents, I suspect, I try to curtail my use of obscenities when the kids are around.  I’m not always successful, but I do try.  It’s not that I think that hearing certain words will somehow turn them evil; it’s that I’d just as soon my kids weren’t introduced to such language and such a young age.  I’m not going to completely shield them from rough language, but I’ll do my best to avoid adding to what they do encounter.  Especially since, in the future, they may be encountering swearing somewhere they hadn’t previously: on television.

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Fudging The Number Of Kids On Vacation

Sunday, July 11th, 2010

We’re planning a family holiday at Disneyland later this summer and when booking our hotel room we had to pay a little more for a larger room, now that there are five of us.  Sure, the older two can share a bed and the baby can sleep with Safari Mom and me, but the hotel doesn’t allow that.  Five people means the larger, more expensive room, whether we like it or not.  But what if I had simply not mentioned the baby and reserved the regular size room?  Could I have gotten away with it and saved myself some money?  Turns out the answer is a resounding yes. And no.

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Sex Ed: Classroom or Playground?

Friday, July 9th, 2010

Where would you have your kids learn about sex?  For some, the answer is definitely not “in school”.  Some parents want to either take on the job of teaching their kids about sex-related topics themselves or shield their children from the subject matter entirely.  In California, and most other states, I suspect, a parent can opt to have their child skip the lessons but, as one Southern California mom discovered, missing the classroom discussions doesn’t mean your son or daughter won’t be hearing all about it

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Teaching The Bible In School

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010

There’s no doubt that the bible has had a significant impact on human history.  The bible has inspired artists such as Michelangelo and Botticelli, composers like Bach and Vivaldi, and even authors like C.S. Lewis.  Although not strictly Christian concepts, we have the bible to thank for the popularity of Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.  Of course, we also have the bible and related works to thank for the atrocities of the crusades, the Middle East conflicts and even, yes, the holocaust.  But should the bible be something taught in schools or is it best left for parents and priests to discuss?  One California school district thinks the bible’s influence is substantial enough to warrant teaching about it.
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Kansas City To Return To The One-Room Classroom

Monday, July 5th, 2010

So they’re not exactly reinstating the idea of the one-room classroom but the Kansas City, Missouri School District is eliminating grade levels.  Instead of placing students in a specific grade according to their age, students will work on topics according to their abilities, beginning next fall.  This is good in that kids who learn quickly are not sitting around waiting for the rest of the class to catch up and kids that need extra time to master a skill can do so.

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Things Parents Say

Sunday, July 4th, 2010

“The rule is if you fall off the bed and have to go to the hospital, you’re not allowed to go on the bed any more.”

Parent explaining why a toddler cannot play on his brother’s loft bed.

Have you heard yourself saying something crazy to your spouse or to your kids?  Has someone said something to you that, in retrospect, seems completely off-the-wall?  Let us know!

Happy Fourth of July!

Sunday, July 4th, 2010

Today is the anniversary of the signing of one of the most incredible documents ever composed in all of man’s history.  It formed what was to become, despite its problems, one of the greatest nations ever seen.  If you’ve got a moment, here are a couple of videos to remind you what this country is all about and, perhaps, bring a smile to your face.

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Court Rules: A Promise Is A Promise

Sunday, July 4th, 2010

Be careful what you promise your kids — you may have to follow through.  When I was a young adult, my father told me that if I lost enough weight to fit into size 30 jeans, he would buy me a car.  I got close, but never made it before he passed away.  Someday, though, I will lose the weight and then I’ll visit my father’s grave and say “you owe me a car!”  Of course, I realize that it would take a miracle to get him to pony up my new ride.  For Dana Soderberg, on the other hand, all it took was a lawyer.

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