Parenting
Spare your parental advice unless you know how to give parental advice
If you’re a parent of a child of any age, I would like to suggest that before you dispense with any parental advice to fellow parents, you carefully consider if you’re qualified. Much of the advice that I am offered or overhear has one or two problems: It presents a bleak future. It’s often…
Read MoreChildren sleeping in their parent’s room: I had strong opinions before I had kids. The results are now in.
The time has come. Prior to the birth of my daughter, I would argue that it was fairly bizarre and unwarranted to have have children sleeping in their parents’ beds for any extended period of time. I expressed opposition to the idea that my children would be spending a significant portion of their sleeping hours…
Read MoreFour things about my children’s childhood that I won’t miss
I will miss many, many things when my children are now longer little. I know how precious this period in their life is. I know how quickly time will seem to pass. I know all this. I don’t need any other parent to tell me, but boy oh boy do they like to tell me.…
Read MoreKids are great, but they ruin everything. Especially your peace of mind about the future of the planet.
I was listening to a boy read a poem onstage at the recent TEDx conference at The Country School. It was a poem that talked about his fears and anxieties. He read: “I worry that the world will end in my lifetime.” I heard those words and remembered thinking the same thing for a long,…
Read MoreThis is what childhood is supposed to look like
My wife was in a doctor’s appointment. Charlie asked the friend who was taking care of him if he could climb up the enormous dirt pile at the adjacent construction site. She said yes. Wisely.
Read MoreMy latest appearance on Mom and Dad Are Fighting: Discussing violent tragedy with children
I made another appearance on Slate’s parenting podcast Mom and Dad Are Fighting, talking about how to handle discussions with children about horrific tragedies like the terrorist attacks in Paris or the mass shooting in San Bernardino (which was actually taking place while we recorded my segment).
Read MoreCharlie reads “I Want My Hat Back.” And you will melt.
I did.
Read MorePulling 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 thought was that this is a ridiculous and stupid idea, but then I saw the number of views of the video (almost half a million)…
Read MoreMy 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 journey that will not be fun. A journey that her father despised. A journey that many kids despise. A journey that most rationale…
Read MoreCan’t fight logic like this.
Conversation between our two children. Clara is six year-old. Charlie is three. Clara: Charlie, here’s a long word I want you to learn. Excluding. It’s when you won’t let others play with you. It’s not nice. Charlie: It is nice. Clara: I don’t like it. Charlie: Yes you do.
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