Unfair assumption #21: John Smith is not a good name
If your last name is Smith and you name your son John - and John is not a family name of any significance - then I have to assume that…
Rumspringa: If only every parent possessed the open mindedness of the bad ass Amish
I admire the hell out of the Amish.Not for their rejection of modern day technology. That’s insane. When humankind deflects the next planet-killing asteroid from striking the Earth, the Amish…
My unconventional advice for the expecting parent (or the less experienced parent)
My friend is expecting her first baby next month. She asked me for my thoughts on parenting. Here is my truth.When Elysha was pregnant, people warned us about how difficult parenting…
Matthew Dicks’s rider
Back on October 10, 2013, my friend, Heather Clow, listed her proposed rider if she were ever to become a performer. I thought this was an amusing idea, so on…
Owl hunters interrupt fiction writer’s flow
In case you didn't know what an owl hunter looked like, here are two are in the flesh. Note the uniform: Pajamas. Straw hat or beach pail worn as helmets. Rain boots.Each…
My six-year old daughter understands the nature of religious texts better than many Republican candidates
On Yom Kippur, my six year-old daughter attended services at the local synagogue. As part of the service, the rabbi gathered the children and told them the story of Jonah…
A character from The Perfect Comeback of Caroline Jacobs comes alive. Seriously.
If you've read my latest novel, The Perfect Comeback of Caroline Jacobs, you'll know that the book opens on a memorable scene in a PTO meeting. What you might not…
Pulling loose teeth just got more profitable. And strange.
The latest parenting craze is pulling your child's lose tooth with a drone. There are hundreds of videos demonstrating this new dental practice on YouTube, including this one. My initial…
God doesn’t want you to dress up in order to worship him. In fact, he would prefer that you dress down.
If you're a regular reader of this blog, you probably know that I am a reluctant atheist. I would like to believe in God (perhaps a kinder and gentler God…
My daughter’s first homework assignment: First steps on a rotten road
It's my daughter's first homework assignment. She didn't mind doing it. She said it was easy. It took five minutes. Her brother sat with her in solidarity.Still, she has begun a…
