enrollment
Today our thirteen year old daughter enrolled at our local community college. We had a very pleasant orientation with her advisor, and then the family – the four of us – toured some new facilities,...
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deschooling: not an all-or-nothing experience
[Ed note on terminology: Let us not pretend I oppose the existence of institutions of learning that employ knowledgable instructors providing course material either voluntarily or for a wage. This is...
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the lap of luxury
“You got me out of bed so we could pick up Thai food – so you wouldn’t have to leave the car!” This is true. I mean – I’m in my PJs and knock-off Uggs and my hair is covered but I don’t think I have...
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boil ’em, mash ’em, stick ’em in a stew!
At seven-ish in the morning I get up. The house is quiet. I use the bathroom, wash my hands. I notice the oven is on and when I peer in, I behold three perfectly oiled up potatoes. I realize Nels has...
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mother’s day: on performing your children
I believe I hurt someone’s feelings a little while back, when they were asking me for parenting advice. I said, “Stop thinking of your baby as being ‘good’. Stop showing off the baby. She’s a person,...
View Articlea stuttering, a restart
Tonight my oldest child is finishing up their art final and submitting it. This is one of three classes for the quarter finished; they have two more winding up here over the next couple weeks and then...
View Articleabsolutely a precious thing
Ralph and I are home late but we are putting together a dinner with several parts: chick’n strips, steamed cauliflower and broccoli, roasted carrots, gravy from scratch, homemade fluffy biscuits. The...
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“It’s Complicated”
(an intense fellow from the County Fair) There is a perfectly lovely woman at a local shop who always greets me warmly, and makes genuine, caring conversation with my husband and I when she sees us....
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dear little fighter
Our children wake in the afternoon and stagger downstairs; Ralph’s made a huge pot of creamy miso ramen loaded with baby bok choy and carrots. Our sons sit down and eat, famished: like something is...
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don’t look too far, right where you are
We’re crossing F street and Phoenix asks me for the difference between empathy and sympathy. And this leads to a discussion on two tangential experiences: commiseration and understanding. Watching my...
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