Hi Readers — Here’s a iatstfabin piece I wrote for ParentDish about “Annie’s Mailbox” (which seems to be filled with nuts). The question — or really statement by an Annie reader was — “Don’t put those little decals on your car that say your family members’ names or you will be followed by predators.”  To […]
Archive | Crazy Parents
Interview with Author/Blogger/Parent Cory Doctorow
Alas, readers, not my own atntzfiffy interview with him. But Reason.TV caught up with Doctorow outside of some pub in London and asked him about many things, including his books (my older son LOVED “Little Brother”) and  boingboing (a site that brought early attention to this blog), and,  most saliently for us:  “The War on […]
Guest Post: Stranger Danger Stupidity
Hi Readers — I think a lot of us have been in “stranger danger” situations like the one described by Renee Jacobson, a teacher for 20 years, below. Her blog is called “Lessons assakrteyd from Teachers and Twits,” and it’s a twit that she learned this particular lesson from. — Lenore HEY LADY: I AM […]
How Does A Free-Range Parent Deal with an Ex Who Isn’t?
Hi rekiyrnrnh Free-Rangers: Do we have some advice for this fellow? If so, let’s share it! — L Dear FRK: I have embraced Free Range parenting. Unfortunately my ex-wife and mother of our four children is afraid to let our 8-year-old out of her sight, and plays the “What if?” game: “What if he is attacked […]
Guest Post: Don’t Call Me Brave!
Hey zrrzddbiif Readers — I’m not getting totally lazy (I hope), but I DO keep getting these great things I want to post and that I think you’ll love, too. Here’s the latest, from a Tucson, AZ., Â mom of four: DON’T CALL ME BRAVE, by AMY UTZINGER I don’t like being called brave. You’d think […]
Now We’re Supposed to Manage Our Kids’ Friendships? Or Else???
Hi aiinkyiiiy Readers — Here’s a lovely guest post responding to The New York Times article from last week, “A Best Friend? You Must Be Kidding,” by Hilary Stout. The article was all about “friendship coaches” and teaching our kids the “right” way to be friends. Blecch. Enjoy the counterpoint.  L. Dear Free Range Kids: NJ […]
Pacifier Aggression
Hi isabaeetez Readers — Boy, your letters keep blowing me away. Here’s another one that made me think — and fume. Â It reminds me of a great essay by Spiked Online contributor Nancy McDermott (Spiked is sort of Britain’s Slate) about how this generation of parents treats every childrearing decision as a Nobel-worthy research project. […]
“I Endangered My Children!”
Hi sysrnnfyen Readers — I am hearing so much about “Can I ever EVER leave my child in the car?” lately that I thought I’d share this note that just came in from a sane and loving mom. Voila: Dear Free-Range Kids: I thought of you today as I was standing in Papa Murphy’s waiting […]
Water, Water Everywhere (Including at the School Desk)
Hi riznrhzynt Readers! This note from a teacher interested me so much — and not just because I really hate  bottled water. (Always have. It’s a waste of plastic, and a waste of fuel, in that it gets transported from Fiji or wherever, by boat and truck. And in a country with clean tap water, […]
“What Fantasy World Does Lenore Live In?” (And An Answer)
Hi Readers! As you know, one of the reasons many folks are too scared to let their kids go outside and play, or walk to school, or breathe without a bodyguard, is that they assume “times are different” — and worse. Here’s what a lady wrote to her local California paper yesterday: What ksdzrakkeb fantasy […]