by Michael Platt, PhD “A TEENAGER--I’M SO SORRY!” “We have two teenagers,” I sometimes hear parents say. “Oh, I’m so sorry,” I sometimes reply. Although I say it with a smile, the truth is sad. Teenagers are not inevitable, natural, or God-given. The Teenager was [...]
I’m on a hike. My pack is rubbing my shoulders sore. I’m hungry. The sun is beating down on my neck. I’ve been needing to duck behind a bush for almost 40 minutes. But I press on, enjoying the pure air, the light rush of [...]
What is FEC? In the past few years, we have witnessed a groundswell of people wishing to work on their fathering, mothering, manliness and femininity. The conveyor belt has stripped our society of clear understandings of our basic roles as men and women, and it [...]
It’s hard being little. I remember keenly wanting to fit in with all the older people around me. I was the youngest of six kids—and quite a bit younger, at that. The closest in age was four years older, and they went up from there [...]
by Kelli Poll It was the early 1960s. In Grosse Point, Michigan a bold experiment was carried out. Applicants were tested to find those who had intellectual and leadership potential. The parents whose children were turned away became bitter and resentful, while those of accepted [...]
This baffling behavior continued for several weeks. It was the only abnormal quirk he exhibited. He acted much like any typical toddler in every other respect, so we weren’t overly concerned, but we were certainly curious! We often made comments like, “He’s YOUR child” or “He must take after YOUR side of the family”, and would just laugh it off, knowing he would eventually grow out of it. But I’ll be forever grateful that he didn’t grow out of it before I learned the powerful message he was bringing me.
Our 16yo daughter is, and always has been, a self-starter. She'll probably make us famous some day with her knowledge of the Classics. She knows Shakespeare really well, she currently teaches a mythology class for local students, and she reports to me from time to [...]
Rachel, I do have one little question, if you don't mind: which age of children do you spend the most time on/with (I know the balance thing—and I know what I do—but I want to hear from another mother with very special demands and a [...]
What American Homeschoolers Say They Want The biggest educational trend in the United States is the growth of alternative schools. The Supreme Court decision on vouchers, along with numerous state-level efforts to empower non-traditional education, is indicative of this trend. But the big changes are [...]
By Ana Veciana-Suarez Last fall was a first-of-its-kind season. For better or worse—I did not register my children in after-school activities. No swimming. No music lessons. No play dates. Nada. Once they finished their homework, they were free to do what they pleased, with a [...]
