I’m sitting here trying to clean off my desk so I won’t be tempted to bring this computer on my yoga retreat. But The Boy Who Doesn’t Sleep got up early. That’s what he does. He zeroes in on my productive energy using it as a beacon to show up by my side. I wouldn’t mind this…
Kletzmer Music, The Farmer’s Market, and Rebuilding Rhode Island
I love the farmer’s market. I feel comfortable. There are people like me at farmer’s markets. There are people with canvas bags, no doubt tons of vegetarians, and older parents. That makes me smile because though I feel young at heart, and I hate it when I’m the only parent around that remembers the Reagan administration. I…
Mom, Why is There No Scrooge II?
In fourth grade, I won a spelling bee. Or something similar. I got a prize. Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. I was an avid reader, the kind of kid who didn’t mind getting sent to my room because there were books there. I took my prize upstairs and started reading. It appears that Charles Dickens is written well…
Glitter, Garbage and Gratitude
Yesterday I made a strategic error in lesson planning. I wanted some old-school fun that disguised learning. Some “edutainment.” I needed the quickest of projects that showed mastery of the Bill of Rights, synthesized some research, and didn’t look like it sucked. Since the next item on the agenda is Midterm Review–which isn’t a trip to Disneyland…
Mr. “No” Meets Santa’s Elf: Epic Rap Battle, Move Aside
“I won’t take no for an answer.” We hear that a lot. Unless you have a five-year old. You take a lot of “no” for an answer. It doesn’t really matter what I ask him to do–the answer is no. Can you put on your coat? “No!” Please come here. “No!” Would you vote to extend Obamacare?…
Why I Can Never Be Martha Stewart–But Am Compelled to Try
It’s Christmastime and I have to decorate the house. I always look to Martha Stewart at times like these for the guidance I need to get through the day. I decided to add some holiday material to my Learnist board about Martha Stewart. It will get me in the mood because I am out of home-made eggnog….
Congratulations. You’re the Proud Owner of a (Pre)Teen. Don’t fear!
You’re looking at the candles on the cake and getting scared. You know it’s coming, and you’ve tried to avoid it. You want to keep that cute little person small–there are so many advantages to having a cute, little person, but it’s inevitable. It’s happening, it’s undeniable. The forces are stacked against you, and you never see…
Black-listing Friday: Getting Back to What Matters
Christmas appeared early this year in our local stores–about three weeks before the Fourth of July, I think. It’s not that I don’t love the site of a freshly-decorated fake tree with a pine-smelling air freshener trying to convince me it’s real–I do, don’t get me wrong, I love the stuff. I love mistletoe and wilted cranberries…
How to Scare Students on Parent Teacher Night
Last night was parent teacher night. I love parent teacher night, but I don’t really love the format–basically, a million parents line up for ten seconds of my time. I feel somewhat like a cross between really, really rude, and a rock star. We put out appointment sheets, but they never work for me, because they contain…
TV is Not A Storm Essential: Being Grateful
We got lucky. It’s post storm, and all is well here–our idea of moving inland away from things like the airport and coast were excellent ideas. The idea of trying to get off the grid immediately–at least as much as possible, has paid off in spades. I’m not chasing sheep around my land washing fleas off wool,…