Vivien had a little runny nose the other week.
The question: to send her to school or not?
I think I made the right choice.
Sick Day
6
Category Archives: Education and School Videos
High School Reunion
Actually, mine was a Junior High/High School reunion because I’m a product of an LA public, magnet, alternative school. My handwriting might be akin to a serial killer’s, but I’m a skilled critical thinker and free spirit.
My reunion was not in a ballroom at the airport Radisson, like they usually are. Instead we had a potluck at a big, pretty park, organized on Facebook. The last reunion we had was at my mom’s house (site of many great parties, since my mom was the original “Cool Mom”) ten years ago.
Vivien had fun with the other kids, but the only thing I didn’t like was how hard it was to look good at a park picnic.
Vivien for President
Parents, listen up! It’s never too early to plan for our children’s future, right? We try to put away some dough for rainy days, college, shoes… So while we’re planning their future careers, shouldn’t we also consider the future of our country? In this video, I lay out my plan for young girls to take over the world – I mean, the USA. Let’s start there.
The School Lunch Dilemma
Okay, this got a little choppy, but when I held up the potato chips there was a longer story there. Hey, it’s hard to fit it all in, in under 70 seconds.
My cousin Margo is a schoolteacher. She teaches elementary kids on a military base. According to her, lunch is a big problem, as the families are poor and the kids don’t get adequate nutrition. She actually has kids who come to class with a bag of chips for lunch.
The harried quality of this video captures how I feel on the mornings I forget to make something the night before. Other times, I really enjoy putting the meal together. It’s like an airplane meal. Little bit of protein, little bit of fruit, etc.
What are your favorite things to put in your kids’ lunch?
Happy Manners Day!
Just because I do not always have them, I do love good manners. I think a little social order is a good thing. In San Francisco, where I’ve never met more men who will NOT open the door for a woman–even when on a date–could use a little manner review. And of course, I am sure it comes as no surprise most people’s traffic manners are abysmal.
Well, lets start with some kiddie manners. At Beverly Hills Manners there is a great survey to take. Here is a sample question.
We live in a time where bad manners are running rampant. People are offending others without care. Here’s an opportunity to select your biggest manners pet peeve:
People who show up late without apologizing
People who fiddle with their cell phones and Blackberry’s during dinner
People who insist on using foul language
People who talk with their mouth full
People who do not respond to emails
People who cut in line
I chose “People who cut in line” which are yours?
Kiddie Parties
Okay, let’s sort out this whole kiddie party thing, shall we? Does anyone remember having big gift bags when they were kids? I think it’s a spillover from celebrity gifting suites for award shows. If kids gift bags get any bigger we are going to have to pay taxes on them.
Have you ever gotten invited to a big kiddie party, where you don’t know any adults accept the host? Torture. I’ve had to pass on a fair bit of kiddie of parties because they are smack in the middle of naptime, and it’s just not worth it. I went to one that was great and it was great, partly because it wasn’t too big. I actually could sit. There is nothing worse than having nowhere to sit.
What are the highs and lows?
Moms Who Soldier On
My Minnesota raised mom has taught me a lot about self-discipline, among other things. Even though I attended alternative schools and my mom has always been a free thinker, she is very grounded and never has given to airy-fairy beliefs. My dad (Georgia raised), while all Southern Gothic is a contrast to mom’s toughness. No histrionics with her.
In this vlog my mom talks about generational differences in mom’s from the ’70′s to now. She also speaks about what was happening with the mom’s of her generation. When everyone diminishes the present day, it’s worth noting, there are some improvements.
Sexualized Teens
Once again, I visit the big gun in my arsenal – my mom. This is such a big issue for parents: how do you realistically protect your daughter from being too sexy? Is there an assualt from our media – I think so – or is this just our perception, since we are no longer the ones tramping around town? Morency, my mom, weighs in.
Too Much Homework
Once again, when I need to tackle the hard topics I turn to my hero/guru: my mom. She was the director of a nursery school and for more than 30 years has run a small private school. I wanted to know her take on homework.
Obviously this isn’t yet an issue with Vivien, but the public elementary school near us that she will probably go to scares me a bit. It’s 60% Korean, and academically they ain’t kidding around! I see the little ones with wheelie bags. And with No Child Left Behind, arts have been thrown in the garbage.
Oliver has a fair bit of homework, which I used to help with a bit. But starting around 6th grade, when I would ask, “Do you need some help?” he would give me a look like, “Do you really think you can be of any help?” Frankly, I really couldn’t.
Preschool Orientation
Well, first off, I look so chubby in this, it’s hard for me to watch. But beyond my jelly roll, this illustrates when I got a little too caught up in preschool and briefly forgot my responsibility as a mom. I taped this a few weeks ago, but thought it was better to run it as we are going through the transition of the start of preschool.
Today is D-Day. I can stay a while, but then have to leave to go to work. I am having my sister and niece pick her up, which Vivien is excited about. I just hope she doesn’t cry when I leave. Ugh.