Considering School Options

Since before my son was born, I have worried about where he would go to school. Since before I got pregnant actually. Waiting lists at preschools, Montessori vs. Waldorf, home-schooling, unschooling, public and private school felt like I had more chances to get it wrong rather than that I had more choices.

I have taught . . . → Read More: Considering School Options

Guiding Principles

In Gretchen Rubin’s personal happiness project, she defines Personal Commandments. Commandments have connotations I’m not sure I want to take on. So what to call mine? Uber-resolutions? Goals for myself that extend beyond an aim for that particular day (exercise, enough sleep, etc). Rules for life? Core values?

I finally settled on Guiding Principles. When . . . → Read More: Guiding Principles

Happy Happy Joy Joy

My happiness project officially ended a couple of weeks ago. Shall I announce, now, that I am happy happy happy? Well, I am. Sometimes.

In January of 2010, I started working through Gretchen Rubin’s The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read . . . → Read More: Happy Happy Joy Joy

Foolin’ Around

April Fools’ Day always struck me as an even meaner holiday than St. Patrick’s Day with all of it’s pinching. April Fools’ Day seemed more focused on making other people feel foolish than on fooling around. You feel like a dupe, gullible. You trusted someone and s/he tricked you. You fool.

But those were the . . . → Read More: Foolin’ Around

To Pox or Not to Pox?

Spring break didn’t turn out at all as I’d planned. We were supposed to go to Chicago to visit friends. Then I got a phone call. “I think I just really f-ed up.” My friend went on to explain she’d been to a pox party and her kids should be getting chicken pox the day . . . → Read More: To Pox or Not to Pox?

Read This: The Dot

My current favorite children’s book is The Dot. It’s about a girl who doesn’t think she can draw. Her teacher urged her to try so “Vashti grabbed a marker and gave the paper a good, strong jab.”

While some teachers might reprimand a student for not trying or for being sassy, this teacher says, “Sign . . . → Read More: Read This: The Dot

What Are the Rules You Live By?

We all live by a set of beliefs that inform how we see ourselves, see others, and function in the world. These beliefs may be helpful, contradictory, conscious or unconscious, but they turn into rules we live by: people are good (or bad), life is a struggle (or I won’t have to deal with than . . . → Read More: What Are the Rules You Live By?

Valentine’s Day is for Love

Some people I know think Valentine’s Day is a schmaltzy Hallmark holiday not worth celebrating, but I love it. My mom’s birthday is on Valentine’s Day so we grew up celebrating it with Texas Chocolate Cake topped with red hots. We had hearts all over the house, which is probably why they’re my favorite shape.

. . . → Read More: Valentine’s Day is for Love

Read These Books About Manners

One of the debates I’ve heard (and engaged in) with other moms is about teaching manners. I grew up calling my friends’ parents by their first names, so when I moved to Texas and everyone said, “Ma’am” and “Sir,” I didn’t like it. It felt too formal, authoritarian, and didn’t jive at all with my . . . → Read More: Read These Books About Manners

One Drawer at a Time

I don’t have $20,000 to replace my kitchen cabinets but I wanted a spice drawer. I want a lot of things actually. And I’ve been finding a way to get many of them, including a spice drawer for less than $15. Can I tell you how people’s eyes light up when I tell . . . → Read More: One Drawer at a Time