Avant Parenting Archives
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Avant! Welcome to my parenting blog archives
As you can see by the dates below, this blog is no longer being updated. However, there’s lots of good stuff here, much of it as true now as when it was written. Please feel free to browse, or follow these links: One last piece of parenting advice: Enjoy today even if it’s a rough…
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Learning through life
OK, I know that I haven’t made a convincing enough argument. All of you, my friends, who actually feel that I’m harming my child by homeschooling her, you are just holding your tongues so that we can maintain our friendship. You think that by bringing up little criticisms, little questions, every day, you might make…
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All's fair at the fair
I got a sneak preview of the county fair last weekend when I dropped off my kids’ science fair exhibits. The faces of the people working to ready the exhibits, food stands, performance areas, and everything else that makes up this yearly event were glowing with excitement and promise. It was a happy, well-directed chaos.…
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Swine Flu vaccine – better safe than sorry
I noticed that Parmalee put in her ideas about the flu vaccine in last week’s newsletter, so I thought I’d write up some of my thoughts here. Unlike a lot of parents I know in Santa Cruz, I am not anti-vaccine. Having read a fair amount about the devastating effects of many of the illnesses…
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Fat thighs to volcano climbs
Moms I know say the most brilliant things. The other day I was talking to a friend while she was changing her baby’s diaper, and we were admiring the baby’s very chunky thighs and puffy cheeks. “Wouldn’t it be great if we valued these things in women, too?” my friend wondered aloud. Then she took…
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A slow-motion accident
I have just finished the most difficult article I’ve written. It’s about special education in Scotts Valley, funding, and the fights between parents and the district. It was a real “she said / he said” experience, with those on the administrative side saying that everything necessary gets done for the kids in special ed, and…