In my school district, the schools close down for 2 weeks around Christmas and New Year’s. While this is nice for the kids and hopefully allows the teachers to recharge their batteries, it’s just a little too long for me. Here are the telltale signs that Winter Break needs to be over: 1. My 9-year-old [Read More]
A Cultural Christmas with The Nutcracker
My parents took me to see The Nutcracker ballet more than once growing up. It was big. It was grand. It was also a little weird because there was no talking. Anyhoo, I’ve never exposed my own children to this tradition. Detroit doesn’t have a ballet company (that I know of) or one that Captain [Read More]
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More Rage Against the Kindergarten Machine
Remember this? You can refresh your memory about this in my first Rage Against the Kindergarten Machine post. Basically, after 6 worksheets, Sydney didn’t want to color her kindergarten homework anymore and I didn’t think she needed to. But obviously her kindergarten teacher thought she should! Well, prepare yourselves. Now there’s this: Troubling? Brave? Poor [Read More]
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My Spelling Starz
Here are two stories that highlight the fabulous job that I’m doing teaching both kids how to spell: Story #1 My kindergartner and I were talking about her dad’s favorite store, REI. Sydney: Mom, I know how to spell REI. Me: Oh? Sydney: R-E-I She’s a genius, folks. Genius! Story #2 I attended my son’s 4th [Read More]
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Sewercide
We went to a trampoline place on Black Friday for some fun. One of the trampoline courts was for dodgeball and it listed the rule “No Suicides”. As my friend and I discussed what “No Suicides” meant in regards to Dodgeball, Will spoke up. “I know what suicide is,” he said. “In dodgeball?” I asked. [Read More]
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Do You Know What Whore Is?
Sydney, 5, and I were at the park. It was unseasonably warm here in Michigan and we were playing outside. “Do you know what ‘whore’ is?” she asked me. Uh…. What? Uh…. Did she just say “whore”? She must have noticed I was stymied. “You know,” she continued. “Like ‘whore’ movies? They’re scary.” Ooooohhhhh. Horror. [Read More]
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My Crock Pot is a Crock Alright
A crock pot is an essential kitchen item. A crock pot, or slow cooker, reduces stress and allows budget-friendly cooking that the whole family will enjoy. All I can say is, “That’s a crock!” I have yet to find a magic recipe to make in the crock pot that my whole family will enjoy. Usually, [Read More]
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Tales from Halloween Past, Part II
A couple weeks ago, I lamented over the fact that my baby boy, once dressed as a pumpkin, has grown up and wants nothing more than to be a frightening/bloody/ghoulish mess this Halloween. Several of you were curious about my daughter Sydney’s Halloween experiences. I’m pleased to report that at the age of 5 she [Read More]
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Rage Against the Kindergarten Machine
To color or not to color. That is the question. Every Friday, Sydney gets a half dozen worksheets sent home from kindergarten. The worksheets are her homework. There are letters to identify and write, words to try and read, plus math exercises to tackle. We have until Wednesday to turn in the finished homework, but [Read More]
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Tales from Halloween Past and Present
Once upon a time, I had a baby boy. I dressed him as a pumpkin for his first Halloween. Then I dressed him as a fluffy chicken for his second Halloween. I dressed him as a caterpillar for his third Halloween. As the years passed, my baby boy grew in wisdom and stature. He began [Read More]
