Archive for January, 2008
« Previous EntriesDisarming humor
Thursday, January 31st, 2008My 10-year-old son was about to head out the door recently in short sleeves when my mother suggested he put on something more appropriate for winter.
“But Grandma,” he protested wryly, “I have the right to bare arms.”
Pondering the whys of life
Wednesday, January 30th, 2008I wrote this eight years ago. Now 10, my son is still a bright and curious guy — thinking about a whole new set of whys.
“Why do horses have legs?”
“Why does the doctor’s chair have wheels?”
“Why is it daylight out?”
My two-year-old son is a bottomless well of questions. Some of his questions are funny. “Why […]
Are books out of style?
Tuesday, January 29th, 2008Kids aren’t reading as much as they once did — and test scores reflect that fact, according to a recent report from the National Endowment for the Arts.
The study revealed less than one third of 13-year-olds read daily during their leisure time. Yet teens spend more than 72 hours a week interacting with electronic media […]
Fruit on the table
Saturday, January 26th, 2008
My husband and I purchased our dining set, a simple rectangular table with four chairs, more than a decade ago.
Over the years, it has been the gathering place for countless meals. When friends and family members visit, we’ve always managed to squeeze in extra seating — an odd desk chair here, a piano bench there.
When […]
Beware the windshield factor
Thursday, January 24th, 2008It’s 9 degrees today. I suppose that’s not so bad if you happen to live in the arctic. But single digit temperatures make me want to hole up in the house until spring.
Last night, my daughter pointed out that it was below zero when taking into account the “windshield factor.”
“You mean wind chill factor,” I […]
Sure I’ll study, if the price is right
Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008Should kids be paid to succeed? A trial program in the Atlanta area is offering middle school and high school students $8 per hour to study after school. The youngsters will receive additional cash bonuses for improved academic performance. The program’s goal is to determine whether paying kids to study will make them better students.
While […]
Treadmills for tots?
Thursday, January 17th, 2008Just when I think I’ve seen it all, along comes something else that makes me go, “No way!” That was my reaction to this ad for diminutive gym equipment. I suppose this is just the thing for millions of kids whose New Year’s resolutions involved a daily workout on a tiny elliptical trainer, stationary bike […]
Confessions of a soccer mom dropout
Wednesday, January 16th, 2008For the record, I am not a soccer mom. Though my kids are fit and physically active, neither of them is interested in being part of a sports team right now. That suits me fine.
I thought I was doing my daughter a favor when I signed her up for soccer several years ago, at the […]
12 months of fun
Tuesday, January 15th, 2008Our tree is packed away and dust is already starting to collect on the new Christmas toys. But the fun is just beginning at our house as the kids leaf through their new calendars and look forward to the year ahead.
It’s a tradition to give them their own calendars for Christmas — pre-marked with individualized […]
Mommy Haiku
Thursday, January 10th, 2008Messy, messy house
Everywhere, visual noise
Screaming in my eyes
Supper time again
“But I don’t like that,” they say
Ah, togetherness
Smudged cheeks, dancing eyes
Little arms flung open wide
The best things in life
