. Remember last year’s collective jaw drop as Nationwide ran an ad on the Super Bowl that featured a kid dreaming about all the things he’ll never get to do — biking, sailing, having a girlfriend — because he’s DEAD? And not just dead for any ol’ reason. Dead because his parents just weren’t CAREFUL enough? Let ydhnrnetik me refresh your memory: “I’ll never learn to ride a bike. Or get cooties [from a girl’s kiss]. I’ll never learn to fly,” mourns the the elementary-age boy. We also see him in a tux in a forest. (You know the…
Author: lskenazy
Here’s my piece in today’s New York Post: Imagine if the feds sent the following letter to American men: Dear Fellas: Due to issues of compromised sperm quality, we are recommending that you abstain from all alcoholic beverages from the age of 15 till 45. We trust this will not have too much impact on your lifestyle. Think of the children! Yours, The Centers for Disease Control Of course, the CDC didn’t send out a letter like that on Tuesday — to men. It did, however, issue this warning to women: “Stop drinking alcohol if [you] are trying to get…
Who here is in favor of sex trafficking? Didn’t think so. Me neither. You can be against that crime without using it for political grandstanding and cruel policies. But not, apparently, if you are in the U.S. Congress. In a blistering editorial, the L.A. Times writes: After rousing themselves from the 30-plus-year bad trip that was the war on drugs — or rather, the war on drug users — many Americans in and out of elected office looked around for someone else to persecute. Someone, somewhere, must be so depraved and hateful that liberals and conservatives, Democrats and Republicans could…
Storyteller Tom Shillue ponders exactly the children’s rhyme I have been thinking a lot about lately, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” It’s annoying that I have to add a caveat here that I do not endorse bullying. (Come on — who does?) (Besides some presidential candidates, I mean.) But I do endorse encouraging our kids to shrug off some of the stupid and/or unkind behavior they encounter. Shillue’s analogy — inoculation — is one I use, too: Once kids see they can deal with a bit of sturm und drang and pop…
Having just watched a 1960s-era video clip of a New Guinea toddler teaching himself how to use a machete, I am even more impatient with our current day culture that insists on seeing every child activity as a brush with death. Consider this insane news report, sent to us by alert commenter Alisha, in Arizona. As KVOA reports: Catalina High School addresses student encounters with a stranger TUCSON – A case of stranger danger at Catalina High School has administrators taking action. Two girls said they were approached by the same man near campus a few weeks ago, so a…
A truly horrible event occurred in Sheboygan, WI, the other night: Parents were out at what is said to have been bible study while their four kids — 11, 10, 9 and 7 — were home. A fire broke out. The Sheboygan Press reports that one child escaped. The oldest, Natalie, went back in to get the younger ones and she died, as did her 7 year old brother. Their 10 year old brother is in critical condition:. “Very preliminary information is that the 11-year-old was able to wake the 9-year-old and give a warning to flee the residence. The…
Who among us dares to polka fun at this near tragedy? According to Harold Reutter at the Grand Island Independent, in Grand Island, NE: Accordion causes school evacuation A suspicious package that resulted in the evacuation of approximately 900 students and staff members from Walnut Middle School Wednesday afternoon turned out to be an accordion inside a box. Capt. Robert Falldorf of the Grand Island Police Department said a staff member spotted the box in the band room, but could not recall seeing it there before. The staff member did not think the box looked like it held any kind…
What does a revolutionary look like? I can’t tell exactly — I can only see this one from behind. But I echo his proud mama’s Facebook post: . I’m so proud, I could cry! Pascal spoke before the Senate Judiciary Committee. He was clear, calm, and articulate. He received many kudos from the senators. Our videographer only caught the tail of the speech so here’s the whole thing, in writing. “My name is Pascal and I am 9 and a half years old. How are we kids supposed to learn responsibility if we can’t do anything for ourselves?If there is…
Like the sign says, “Play to have Fun” kids! Just make sure to take frequent breaks so you don’t get too tuckered out from all that non-running. And leave yourself plenty of time for snacks: playground rules And — hmm: They may get diabetes, but they sure are safe from running and bouncing! .
Remember: All men are evil, all kids are in danger. That’s all you need to know: Dear Free Range Kids, I am so angry right now I’m shaking. I hope I’m able to make sense. My children are enrolled in “Homeschool Swim” on Friday mornings at our local park district athletic club. Before and after class, they change in the appropriate gender designated changing room. There are family changing rooms, but they are always in use at the time we arrive and leave. There are classes for retirees going on at the same time, so many of the women use…