My Blog
Parents, Please Don’t Drink the Kool-Aid, Part 2
My last post expressed my concern about the way we talk about teenagers in our culture—you know, that kids are just “hard-wired” to be difficult once they reach adolescence, that puberty and all those hormones make them crazy, etc… I wondered whether we could afford...
Please Don’t Drink the Kool-Aid
The narrative about teens in this country—that they are hard-wired to be irresponsible, defiant, and self-absorbed—is harmful and wrong. Teens deserve better from us.
Is It Important for All Boys to Play on Sports Teams?
Many parents believe that it’s important for their sons to have experience being a part of a sports team. I wonder, though, if there is such a big qualitative difference between the kind of camaraderie that develops among boys on competitive sports teams and what you...
Why Children Loved Mr. Rogers
People love Mr. Fred Rogers and the recent movie, It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, elegantly illustrated his abundance of empathy, generosity, emotional intelligence, and grace. Yes, he was kind, but there was something more that drew children toward him and...
TEACHING MOMENTS
A teenage girl stares at her mother who waits patiently and smiles kindly at the elderly man whose unfamiliarity with paying electronically is holding up the line at the register. “Why were you smiling at that guy?” the daughter asks on their way out, her impatience...
Helping “The Last Boys Picked” : Accommodating Non-Athletic Boys in Elementary Education
In the agonizing moments before their names are called, those last boys picked for the kickball or basketball team during gym, or its un-legislated twin—recess—are getting a tutorial in what it means to be considered a liability. Alternating turns, the team...
Contact Me
Ask a question or request an appointment below.
For emergencies call 911 or visit your nearest hospital.