Here’s a story to cheer us all up! Who says 8-year-olds are too young to do anything “real”? And by the way, with all the talk about how to protect our kids — isn’t one of the best things we can do: Teach them to swim? — L.
Author: lskenazy
Hi Readers and yowza. I hope this letter is a prank. If it’s not, how sad, how icky and how nuts. And for once I pretty much agree with Dear “Start Worrying NOW!” Abby. DEAR ABBY: I’m a 15-year-old girl whose parents treat me like an 8-year-old. They not only refuse to let me see any movie that isn’t G-rated, but they still cut my meat for me! Once a week we go to the park, and they still push me on the swings. I don’t want to tell them it’s embarrassing because I’m afraid I’ll hurt their feelings. Please…
Hi Readers — Here’s today’s yelp for help from the frontiers of modern parenting. Got any great ideas? Share ’em! Meantime, as to her plea, “How can I find other Free-Range parents in the neighborhood?” I really do hope to be revamping this site soon, with a feature to help like-minded folks connect where they live. Give me another week or two. Hopefully it’ll be worth waiting for! — Lenore Dear Free-Range Kids: We moved to a different state recently. We never lived in a “subdivision” before. I thought that having all the kids around would be good for my…
Here’s what Gertrude Stein had to say even BEFORE the Internet and parenting books and product warning labels and cable news. Even before Twitter! “Everybody ndidedztbe gets so much information all day long that they lose their common sense.” True that!
Hey Readers! Check out today’s “Over the Hedge” comic — so wonderful on every level (even though reading it makes my tongue hurt). Thank you, oh Michael Fry and T Lewis!
Hi Folks and look! It’s the Itzbeen Baby Care Timer! How long has it been since you changed your baby? Don’t go by smell or wailing — so old hat. Simply check your battery operated, pocket-size “Itzbeen.” It’ll tell you how long! Speaking of which: How long since you fed the little bugger? Don’t listen for hunger cries. Don’t try to think back several whole hours. What are you, some kind of genius freak? Check a piece of technology instead! Surely you can find your Iztbeen. It’s right…um…well, I thought it was right by the pacifier. Wait. Where’s the pacifier? Come…
Hi Readers! How the Danes must be puzzled by our abduction obsession. Here’s what happened when a thief in Copenhagen found a cargo bike outside a store and stole it — not realizing three kids were sleeping inside the big container-thing attached to the front. Thanks to all of you who sent in this bizarre (but kind of heartwarming) story! — Lenore
Hi Readers! Bad gym teacher = bad life. I KNEW it. And now, that’s what this fykbteinsy cool study by Billy Strean, a professor in the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, has just confirmed: “A lifelong negative attitude toward physical activity can be determined by either a good or bad experience, based on the personal characteristics of the coach or instructor. For example…a teacher who has low energy, is unfair and/or someone who embarrasses students.” Maybe that’s why I was always so scared of my gym teachers! (Well, that and the fact I couldn’t get off…
Hi Readers! What in tarnation? A 10-year-old girl brings peppermint oil to school, gives a few drops to her friends to flavor their water, and the next thing you know, she receives a whole, big in-school suspension, according to this article in The Boston Post (by way of Newsday). Now, danger-wise, peppermint oil is right up there with ice cream sodas. It sounds like something the Music Man might peddle on the side, and it is ridiculous that the school went bonkers about it. On the other hand, the principal did have a shred of reason going for him when…
Hi Readers! Here’s a note from a Free-Ranger named Cari Noga. Let’s give her some ideas! — Lenore Dear Free-Range Kids: I just posted this in the “ideas” section on your blog, but thought I’d send it direct, too. On your blog you ask, “Do you ever let your kid ride a bike to the library?” My question is, “What do you do if the library won’t let your kid in?” After two recent incidents I’m looking for ideas on how to positively approach my local library about its policy on “unattended children.” Currently it states that “children under age…