Powerlessness creeps in as a result of setbacks children experience as they strive to feel confident and self-assured. They can’t do things as well as their older siblings or peers, so they feel frustrated. They are criticized and punished and… Read More ›
parenting
Evaluation
The assumption that unschooling parents somehow lack awareness of their children’s progress, and therefore require formal evaluation of that progress, is related to the fact that unschoolers function outside the arena of the schools, and our philosophies and methods are… Read More ›
Cooperation
Some people think that a child’s cooperation is something adults are entitled to; they think it is something they can demand. But genuine cooperation cannot be demanded – it can only be earned, and must be given freely. When children… Read More ›
Responsibility
…the transfer, by the parents, of so much of their own authority and responsibility to the schools is in most ways a cowardly and contemptible business… —John Holt in ‘What Do I Do Monday?’ Related articles Quote This: John Holt… Read More ›
The Princess Bitchface Syndrome by Michael Carr-Gregg
Opening Sentence:I think I would call her the stranger who arrived to replace the other person we knew – we now have the both of them living with us in one person happily. Synopsis:In this hard-hitting book, Michael Carr-Gregg focuses… Read More ›
Kathy Lette in ‘How to Kill Your Husband (and other handy household hints)’
“It’s a mystery of parenthood that your son can give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to stray, worm-riddled dogs, share a piece of re-chewed gum from a kid with bronchitis and pick his nose and eat it on a regular basis, yet won’t… Read More ›
‘Too Safe For Their Own Good’ by Michael Ungar
Opening Sentence:Tom and Janice thought they had shown the right amount of concern. Synopsis:While our kids are safer now than they have ever been, we are constantly fearful for them. We drive them everywhere, organise their time, and cocoon them… Read More ›
Mae, kindergarten teacher quoted in ‘What’s Happening to Our Girls?’ by Maggie Hamilton
“There is an emotional abuse of kids. Instead of input they buy them something.”
Michael Carr-Gregg in ‘The Princess Bitch-Face Syndrome
“Parents need to think of this journey [adolescence] as an economist would. At first you invest your love and energy, and the returns are great. Middle adolescence sometimes feels like a recession, as you get little or nothing back. But… Read More ›
What’s Happening to Our Girls?
Synopsis:Why are girls as young as five years old concerned about their looks and addicted to shopping? Why are they having sex and binge-drinking so young, responding to chat-room predators, and bullying their peers via email and text messages? Why… Read More ›
Mini Gaol Cell or Much Needed Break?
[juiceboxjungle height=”396″ width=”320″ video=”iframe/embed/162831_2009-09-22-205021?amazon_id=juic04-20″] More parenting videos on JuiceBoxJungle This is a tough issue. I’m not sure that I would categorize a playpen as a ‘mini gaol cell’. In some families they are actually necessary (when there are other children… Read More ›
To Pacify or Not to Pacify?
[juiceboxjungle height=”327″ width=”320″ video=”iframe/embed/133109_2009-07-30-180259″] More parenting videos on JuiceBoxJungle This is a fairly controversial subject amongst parents. Mum’s especially tend to be quite fanatical about whether pacifiers are good or bad.I personally feel there are arguments for both sides. Some… Read More ›
Horrible, Horrible Day
*UPDATE: I have decided that I feel ready to open this post to the general public. Please understand that this is a sensitive topic and refrain from trolling.* Only a few people are being allowed to see this post. I… Read More ›
He’ll be OK: Growing Gorgeous Boys into Good Men by Celia Lashlie
Opening Sentence:Recently I was invited to convene a breakfast for fathers whose sons attended a Gosford grammar school. Synopsis:Adolescent boys – they seem to disappear into another world where they barely communicate, and where fast cars, alcohol and drugs are… Read More ›
Children Having Children: Global Perspectives on Teenage Pregnancy (Ideas in Conflict Series) by Gary E. McCuen
Opening Sentence:As a society we worship at the altar of sex. Synopsis:From the Contents Page Global Perspectives on Adolescent Pregnancy: U.S. teen pregnancy rates are falling; the rates are rising; adolescent fertility worldwide concerns; adolescent fertility in Nigeria; teenage pregnancy… Read More ›
Dad in Microwave Case Wants to Keep Parental Rights
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/5654682.html Honestly, can you believe the nerve of this guy? He should never be allowed near kids again! In fact he should be broiled alive! “He loves his baby,” said attorney Sam Cammack III, who represented Mauldin in the trial… Read More ›
Father and Child Reunion by Warren Farrell
Synopsis: Just as the last third of the twentieth century was about creating equal opportunity for women as workers, so the first third of the twenty-first century will be about creating equal opportunity for men as parents. Neither goal will… Read More ›
