Chances are you have a memory of something you did as a child that made you feel free, independent, brave, capable. Something that society has now decided is unsafe. Where once children were allowed to play outside unsupervised, such an action is now perceived as negligent and possibly criminal.
books
Great Parenting Books That Don't Make Me Feel Like a Shitty Mother
I have to admit: I'm a fairly confident parent. Not confident that I do everything perfectly, or that every decision I make is Right, or that I couldn't possibly be raising my children any better, but confident that I'm mostly doing the best that I can do and that my children are emotionally and physically healthy. I generally trust my...
Do You Write in Books?
I love a brand new book. I love the unbroken spine, the sharp corners, the fresh smell. I love knowing that I'm the first person to open the book and turn each page. I remember in high school, when our English teacher would hand out the next reading assignment, I'd always hope to get the best copy. I'd...
The Underachieving Mom's 2016 Holiday Gift Guide for Tiny Human Boys
This is my first-ever attempt at a gift guide, and I'll be honest: it's pretty basic. There are a couple reasons for this: 1) you know your kid better than I do, so you probably know what s/he likes better than I do, so who am I to give advice?; and 2) listing a bunch of stuff...
Rainy Day Reads
Today is the first rainy day we've had in weeks, and I'm loving it. I don't feel any pressure to go out for a walk or admire the view: I feel perfectly okay sitting inside, reading and sipping tea (there's probably a nap happening this afternoon, too). While I'm terrified of the long winter to come, today...
Have You Ever Written to an Author?
A few years ago I was sitting in a cafe in Santa Barbara and felt an overwhelming urge to write to David James Duncan. I had just read a piece by him in The Best American Essays 2009 about birds and extinction and disintegrating marriage, which left me weeping at my table.