We watched Daddy Day Care last night, a movie about two laid off dads taking advantage of an opportunity to “clean up” in a town of horrible day care choices. Of course they discover the side benefits of running a…

Continue reading → Play-Based Business Plan

I originally didn’t want to write today about how the economy is affecting our holiday. I mean, I’ve been a Grinch for years, pushing for emailing Christmas cards, eliminating presents for anyone but the kids, or at least not mom…

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Continue reading → I don’t want to get back to the “true meaning”

I’ll confess right now that I have not been actively teaching my kids about diversity. Beyond telling them that people all have different talents, diversity has not been a big topic of discussion in our home. As a mom, an…

Continue reading → Diversity Education Starts at Home

There’s nothing like spending one to two hours a day reassuring employees and co-workers that they will probably not be laid off when you’re a busy working mom with no extra time. Well, besides the fact that I’m really not…

• Time Travel Romance Audio Books
• Time Travel Romance Books

Continue reading → Scary times in the Valley

You’ve heard about the drop-off playdate, that lovely invention that allows busy mommies a bit of free time and active kiddos a chance to torment someone besides their little brother. Okay, I’ve never actually dropped my kids off anywhere specifically…

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Continue reading → The Pick-up Playdate

Susan wanted to sell her Mama Guilt recently over in Chicago, and while no, I don’t need to buy anymore (thank you very much), it sure brought up guilt pangs of my own. I thought I had it under control….

• Time Travel Romance Books
• Time Travel Romance Audio Books

Continue reading → Save me from the Horrible Guilt

Our own little silicon-valley-family-economy has been going down hill for a while. First my husband decided to pursue his dream job, which, lets just say, doesn’t have a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow five year plan….

• Deals Sun Valley Idaho Skiing Vacation
• Deals Waterville Valley New Hampshire Skiing Vacation
• Deals Deer Valley Utah Skiing Vacation

Continue reading → When Will it End?

I remember last year sitting in my son’s kindergarten class at their reading comprehension station, where they’d listen to a story then write and draw pictures about it. I was amazed to see an actual cassette tape! When was the…

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• Rules no one teaches but everyone learns Language rules can seem arbitrary, and in our own language we sometimes don't recognize a rule. Native speakers follow language rules they don't even know they know. This article was insightful about rules in English. It reminds me of a time when a Chinese friend was helping one of his......
• Books and language Books are the compasses and telescopes and sextants and charts which other men have prepared to help us navigate the dangerous seas of human life. Jesse Lee Bennett The sum of human wisdom is not contained in any one language, and no single language is capable of expressing all forms......

Continue reading → Shout Out to East Palo Alto Teacher: Help Students Learn to Read and Speak English

I’m not a big celebrity news follower, not even having time to keep up with friends, much less random strangers, but I do read the Mercury News gossip column, and when I read this it just pissed me off.J-Lo made…

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Continue reading → You Go J-Lo

I rushed out of the house the other morning, still on time for school, to find my driver side window smashed to smithereens. Actually I opened my trunk, which set off the alarm, which made me look to see if…

Continue reading → Bad Things come in Threes, Fours, Fives?

I keep reading about your kids who want to go to school but can’t, who are way more ready than mom for school and then there’s the one who got a break for two more weeks. I spoke to my…

• Time Travel Romance Books
• Time Travel Romance Audio Books

Continue reading → I Can’t Take the Tears - Day 1 Redux

I’m pretty comfortable with nudity, having grown up in the seventies with geek hippie-wannabe parents, meaning they never actually managed the sex, drugs and rock and roll, but had nothing against it, and were slightly bummed they studied their way…

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Continue reading → I’m Living in a Nudist Colony

The other night my son told me he didn’t want me to go to work. “I only get to see you in the morning and night. And you are too tired to play with me in the morning.” In fact,…

Continue reading → Ain’t No Cure for the Summertime Blues

A was enjoying a little birthday dinner with some friends at Vino Locale and I mentioned how nice it was to share a bottle of wine with a friend at our pool, as our kids frolicked in the water. “You…

• Spa Hot Tub Pool Spa Covers Pools Spas Yard, Garden Outdoor Living
• Toys Games Pool Fun Pools Spas Yard, Garden Outdoor Living

Continue reading → My Own Private Swim Club

“I hate you!” “I wanted it cut up.” “I didn’t want it cut up” “Why do we always have to walk the dogs?” “We always go to this park.” “I’m not talking to you anymore.” “You are the meanest mommy…

Continue reading → G’Head, Hurl those Insults, Doesn’t Bother Me

I’ve read in a couple places, most recently in Writing Motherhood, that a nice tradition is to tell your kids their birth story on their birthday. I thought that was a little weird, frankly, so we just show the video….

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Continue reading → The Day You Were Born

I’m driving in my car, I turn on the radio I’m pulling you close, you just say no Bruce Springstein, Fire It only lasted a week, but I still think about her all the time. I feel like I’m betraying…

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Continue reading → I Can’t Stop Thinking About Her

Yesterday morning I opened the paper to read this disturbing headline: Gay marriage ban qualifies for Calif. ballot What? What? I am so confused. Recently California had some momentous news. The Supreme Court struck down a ban on same-sex marriage….

• Thinking about relationships I couldn't resist sharing this quote, with permission. He was speaking about marriage, but I think it applies to any relationship. It was a truism that made me smile, as he often does. Karin It's the most frustrating thing in marriage when you realize that your spouse is not understanding......

Continue reading → “Family Values” Rear their Ugly Head Again

I found out tonight that a slew of high schools and others around the country are going to observe a day of silence on April 25 in commemoration of “Lawrence King, a 15 year-old student who was killed in school…

• High Schools Schools Historical Memorabilia Collectibles
• Mercury American Automobiles Advertising Collectibles
• Schools Historical Memorabilia Collectibles

Continue reading → Day of Silence - April 25

I’ve been in denial too long, I have to acknowledge I’ve got one of those boys. The ones who don’t want to sit still, who pushes kids back when they push him, and plays when he should be napping. In…

Continue reading → Have Boy, Need Preschool