Fast times and wild living with (the former) Baby Whozit…
Posted in Jessica on Nov 16th, 2013
I am happy to report that we are now a fish-less household. As you may recall, about two years ago we were “gifted” with a betta fish. I never planned on owning a fish, but once one was put in my hand, I went out and bought a 2.5 gallon tank, rocks, and some aquarium […]
Posted in First Steps, Jessica on Nov 12th, 2013
Simon is a kind, sensitive child whom I try to rear with kindness and sensitivity. Every once in a blue moon, I find myself at the end of my rope (usually due to things besides him) and say or do something unkind. Then I feel awful. This weekend, I was fine and Simon was fine, […]
Posted in First Grader, Jessica on Nov 5th, 2013
Simon is making some serious progress in his various sports, a situation I find equal parts amusing, thrilling, and daunting. For example, his PE class just timed children in a half-mile race. Simon tied one other boy for fastest at 3:50. That’s up from 4:26 earlier this year and places his speed just shy of […]
Posted in First Grader, Jessica on Nov 1st, 2013
Remember Hong Kong Phooey? You might not; he was only around for about 16 episodes in 1974-5. But he showed up in a Scooby Doo episode Simon saw a few months ago, which led him to some old videos on YouTube, and hilarity ensued. And that’s how he chose a character last seen 31 years […]
Posted in Jessica, KIP (Preschool) on Oct 26th, 2013
If online reading tutorials are teaching me a lot about the cultural expectations that feed into standardized tests and potentially trip up low-income and/or urban dwelling children, then pre-K books are teaching me a lot about how our color language can reinforce negative stereotypes about darker hues and put difficult (notice I did not write […]
Posted in Jessica on Oct 21st, 2013
Or: How to Buy a Car in 10 Easy Steps Step One: Research Edmunds and Consumer Reports for the make, model, and year car you can afford. Step Two: Go test drive three vehicles that match your research results. Step Three: Pick car. Research fair price. Step Four: Have brother look over vehicle. Negotiate price. […]
Posted in First Grader, Jessica, Simon says... on Oct 11th, 2013
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a student possessed of an American education is in want of any knowledge of geography. Americans, as study after study informs us, are embarrassingly awful at geography. Can’t find Iraq on a map embarrassing. Thinks New Mexico is part of Mexico embarrassing. Matt and I feel confident we […]
Posted in First Grader, Jessica on Oct 9th, 2013
When we weren’t shopping for a car, clearing out our old car, or talking to insurance agents this past week, we were busy watching Simon twist, flick, and pull at his two loose teeth. One came out on his way to a friend’s skating party Monday afternoon. The second fell out on the third bite […]
Posted in Jessica on Oct 6th, 2013
Or Jessica and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. That would be Thursday, the day of Brandeis Elementary’s PTA Walk-a-Thon fundraiser. I was in charge of coordinating volunteers and figured from the start it would be a long day. It was made a longer day owing to Matt’s being out of town and […]
Posted in First Grader, Jessica, Simon says... on Sep 30th, 2013
Ideally, a no-presents class birthday party comes after several careful conversations with one’s child in which you discuss the reasons for it, acknowledge possible disappointment, and otherwise ease your child into forgoing what for many is the most exciting part of a class party. Another option is to spring it on the kid once it’s […]