My Facebook feed is overflowing right now with adorably filtered pictures of your kids’ first days of school-at-home. You’re all so sweetly optimistic; it truly warms my heart. You’ve repurposed your breakfast nook into a cozy learning haven! You’ve decorated your walls with maps and alphabet letters! You’ve replaced the stacks of magazines, old mail, […]
August 17, 2020
Dear Parents, As you may have heard, our school board unanimously decided during last night’s Zoom meeting to hold in-person classes at all of our district’s schools, starting August 10th. Although some parents have expressed concern about sending their children back to school in the midst of an out-of-control pandemic, we have come to the […]
August 4, 2020
This is the year we learn what it’s like to live with fear as a backdrop. It feels right now like outside the walls of my home, the world is burning down. Since I last wrote, Coronavirus has invaded the planet and shows no signs of relenting. More than a hundred thousand people have died […]
July 1, 2020
Here’s something I’ve never shared with you before: I have a child with an autoimmune disease. It’s something I haven’t written about because like many autoimmune diseases, it’s an invisible illness. Although my child has struggled and life since diagnosis hasn’t been easy, you probably wouldn’t have any idea my kid had anything going on […]
March 23, 2020
My Facebook feed is filled right now with moms and dads resolutely trying to help their kids do all of their schoolwork from home. And I feel for them, because I know how hard it is. This is my fourth year of homeschooling my daughter under much the same conditions — Teachers set her curriculum […]
March 20, 2020
Not to panic you, but I’d like to announce that I’m officially panicking about coronavirus. And before you come at me with your medical expert-quoting article links on why I shouldn’t be panicked, let me say from the outset that I fully realize most people who get the illness are recovering, and kids and teenagers […]
February 27, 2020
In the wake of the controversy surrounding Jennifer Lopez’s scandalous Super Bowl performance, I’ve seen many comments and concerns over what is and what isn’t appropriate for families to watch. This handy guide should help clear up your confusion! OKAY: Olympic pairs ice skating. NOT OKAY: Jennifer Lopez’s Super Bowl performance. OKAY: The […]
February 5, 2020
Each afternoon when I pick up my 12-year-old son from school, we perform a time-honored ritual that’s shared by millions of moms and sons every single day. (begin scene) “How was school?” I ask him. “Fine,” he answers. “What happened today?” I ask him. “Nothing,” he answers. (end scene) Of course, I usually press him […]
January 30, 2020