As an outdoor enthusiast and learn-by-doing advocate, I've long been a skeptic about the role of screen time in our kids' lives. Our family even took a two-year hiatus from TV a few years ago -- an experience I wrote about here. Of course, that was in the BEFORE picture of the world. Before coronavirus.... Continue Reading →
Sometime during the past century, Christmas became complicated. As Meredith Deland put it in 1904, “Twenty-five years ago, Christmas was not the burden that it is now. There was less haggling and weighing, less quid pro quo, less fatigue of the body, less wearing of the soul; and most of all, there was less loading... Continue Reading →
If you've ever ventured anywhere near homeschooling, you've probably encountered someone asking the classic and dreaded question, what about socialization? This question is always asked by newcomers to homeschooling. Veteran homeschoolers are more likely to ask things like, How do you balance the needs of multiple kids with very different interests and personalities? or How... Continue Reading →
Over the years our alternative education journey has included dance classes, theater classes, karate classes, ukulele lessons, museum memberships, theater tickets, state park passes, and trips across the country. I love introducing my kids to new ideas and new places. But as every parent knows, these experiences can start to add up to a small... Continue Reading →
I recently had the pleasure of chatting with Colleen Sims of the Empathic Parent Podcast about the alternative schooling path my family has taken. In my personal life, I have a tendency to turn every topic of conversation into a discussion about alternative education ("Oh, you have a third grader? How do they like school?")... Continue Reading →
Does taking a shower while you're responsible for the safety and well-being of one or more young children strike you as an insurmountable task? Just follow these simple steps and you'll be on your way to starting your morning (but let's face it, probably your afternoon) squeaky clean. Step 1. Set your kids up with... Continue Reading →
Our culture is obsessed with independence. As soon as babies are born, the race toward self-sufficiency is on. We as a culture cannot wait to have babies sit independently, eat independently, sleep independently, and play independently. In fact, we kind of want them to just get a job already. In the seven years I’ve been... Continue Reading →
December is the season of holiday decorations, cookies, hot cocoa, glitter, sparkle, and holiday parties. It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Unless you’re a co-sleeping, breastfeeding, not-ready-to-leave my-kid-yet mom. Then it’s transformed into the most stressful part of the year when the holiday party invitations start rolling in. Those of us who parent... Continue Reading →
Does preparing for the holidays fill you with stress? Are you dreading finding something for everyone on your list? Are you fearing for the barrage of STUFF that will soon descend upon your household? Wouldn’t it be nice to replace these feelings of stress and dread with feelings of calm and joy? Here are five tips to cut down on holiday stress.... Continue Reading →
