Month: July 2020

I’m not entirely sure how my son ended up with over a dozen nerf guns. When he was born, I swore that we would be a weapon-free household. We would buck the stereotypes of masculine play. Surely it was a social construct and nothing more that caused boys to be wild and reckless and inexorably… Continue reading A Grudging Acceptance of Nerf Guns

Just because school is out for the summer, it doesn’t mean we’re loafing off, academically. There is plenty of Summer Math to be had. You just have to look for it. For example, take this story problem. If two children and one mom all clamber aboard a single-seater kayak, how far away from the dock… Continue reading Summer Math Lessons

My daughter turned to me just before bedtime the other night and said – “This summer is actually pretty great.” And you know what? She’s right. I had a lot of anxiety going into the summer. We were so tired from the long weeks of crisis schooling. Everyone was burned out, stressed out, and grieving… Continue reading Life in the Bubble

My fingernails are currently painted with a jaunty silver, white, and blue striped pattern. It’s quite flashy. My eleven-year-old live-in nail technician was very proud of her work. The nails were a perfect accompaniment to the dangly star earrings, fireworks t-shirt, and red and white striped skirt I was wearing on the fourth of July.… Continue reading What Are We Celebrating?

I am feeling existentially conflicted. The last time I experienced this much emotional angst was when I was forced to grapple with my feelings for Michael B. Jordan as Killmonger in the Black Panther movie. The man made some good philosophical points and he’s just too beautiful to be the bad guy. Whose side am… Continue reading Rain: Godsend or Curse?