Category: Parenting

Be a Good Sport

I stopped playing Monopoly in college. Guy and I and another couple spent a weekend together at his parents' home in Santa Cruz. Late Saturday afternoon I witnessed a game of Monopoly transform my kind and generous friends into greedy Wall Street sharks. And that was it. I quit playing mid-game and tried to disguise my disgust as they each … Continue reading Be a Good Sport

Wild Child in Bow Tie

Teen wore a bow tie for his Confirmation. He chose to participate in Confirmation, a five-month process for high school students during which they met monthly with their leader and peers for teaching/study and with a one-to-one adult mentor to discuss life and faith. At the end they publicly professed their faith in Jesus Christ through … Continue reading Wild Child in Bow Tie

Spelling Bee

Tween participated in the school-wide spelling bee. Placing in the top two in his classroom bee, he joined seventeen other 3rd through 5th graders. All winners before they hit the stage, Tween made it to 4th place. Miraculous, as years ago experts predicted that given his particular set of learning (dis)abilities, his spelling level wouldn't exceed third grade. … Continue reading Spelling Bee

Snake Surrender

Teen purchased a second snake last weekend. You read that right. There are two, count 'em, two snakes living in our home. Along with three leopard geckos, a tortoise, three cats, and one (or two) dogs (our dog and our neighbors' dog are best friends so we - or our neighbors - often have two dogs). It's a zoo. Add four … Continue reading Snake Surrender

A Beautiful Week

I have to laugh. I declared my intention to put myself in the way of beauty this year. And the first full week of January began with an ant infestation and was dominated by two kids with poison oak and multiple doctors visits. Neither ants nor poison oak could ever possibly fall into the "beauty" … Continue reading A Beautiful Week

It’s the Age

“Mom, stop, please? Just listen…” Despite his unwillingness to listen, I do. I listen with my ears, my head and heart, with experience that might lend to wisdom he doesn’t want. He doesn’t think I hear, but I hear more than he knows. I hear his broken heart. I hear his desperate desire to know … Continue reading It’s the Age