by Dawn | Apr 9, 2016 | family, Frugal Living & Sustainability, Parenting, sustainability
All you really need in life is a box and some tape. “No! Don’t recycle, Mom! I need them.” The stack of Amazon boxes reminds Declan of Christmas. I scowl–forty rainforests died because I ordered a few glass bottles. I love the magic of...
by Dawn | Jan 27, 2016 | education reform, family, simplicity
My son’s been in the bathroom for a very long time. I thought there was a problem. Nothing’s wrong except the iPad has a full charge. In the olden days, we took real books into the bathroom–honest to goodness literature. Dickens is plenty long...
by Dawn | Dec 30, 2015 | education reform, family, parenting, Teaching
The boy screams and wails. I panic and run to the other room. “It’s signed me out of X-box Live!” he says. I try to be relieved–nobody’s injured. Instead, the cold hand of fear wraps around my soul. I cannot fix the Xbox. I have no...
by Dawn | Dec 29, 2015 | family, parenting
“Go clean your room!” every good mom says. I never say that. Reason why? I don’t care. I’m too tired. “It’s my room!” Declan says. I correct him immediately. “It’s not your room,” I say....
by Dawn | Dec 26, 2015 | family, simplicity, Zen
Christmas, New Year, and Hanukkah Dinners Holiday dinners are highly orchestrated events. They requires the skills of a top chef and the timing of a miracle. “Why are we having turkey again? We had it for Thanksgiving.” Truth? Because Bob Cratchit got...
by Dawn | Dec 22, 2015 | family, gratitude, self-improvement
It’s time to have a serious talk with the boy. I sit him down. “Listen, Declan,” I say. “Santa’s not getting you everything on this list.” “Yes, he will.” It’s a hefty list. “No, he won’t.” I...