Okay, I won’t say, “G’day, Mates!” again, because apparently that is about as cool as going to Kentucky and hooting, “Yeehaw, Â y’all!” or, for that matter, arriving in New York and saying, “Greetings to my peeps!” (Unless, of course, one is greeting a cadre of small, marshmallow bunnies.) So hello from Australia where the food […]
Archive | Zingers and retorts
A List that Sums Things Up Nicely
Hi fkdyatnshr Readers! Just got this interesting letter from a Florida gal named Linda Wightman, who blogs at Lift Up Your Hearts. I haven’t seen the book she describes, but I thought her list of things that are going wrong in society was as tight as it was right. So here it is! The Parallels […]
Why Big Brother “School Safety” Measures Aren’t Making Schools Safer
Hi rnsehzzyed Folks — Just read this Salon interview with Aaron Kupchik, author of “Homeroom Security: School Discipline in an Age of Fear.” It’s an eye-opening look at the law-and-order mindset at many high schools these days. Â I really loved what Kupchik had to say, especially this comment about the wide-reaching effect of Zero Tolerance […]
What Could Happen to Your Kid in the Car While You Pay For Gas?
Hi Readers — Over at Parentdish I wrote a rttnriyeay column saying that sometimes you CAN leave your child in the car for a few minutes while you run in to pick up a pizza or pay for gas. Yes, crack the windows. Yes, take out the keys. Yes, always keep your purse or wallet […]
3-year-old Saves Dad by Walking to Fire Station for Help (2 Blocks!)
Hi Readers — Sometimes, when people say, “Why should I let my kid walk to school/the library/the store? There’s almost no upside and the downside is just too dangerous!” all we can do is say, “No it’s not” — an argument that doesn’t get us very far. Next time, after viewing this great story about […]
“When I Was a Kid, My Neighbor Was Abducted. How Can I Go Free-Range?”
Hi aairhnhssr Readers — Here’s a letter I just got: Dear Free-Range Kids: I’m generally in agreement with Lenore’s views. It’s ridiculous to try to protect our children from EVERYTHING out there. The article about not having a baby on board sign because it could decapitate the baby … fear-mongering at it’s worst! Gave me […]
Emma Thompson on Making Kids Brave
Hi zydiiryzys Readers! Here’s a lovely little rant about raising brave kids by the “Nanny McPhee” (and, oh, Shakespeare) actress, Emma Thompson. It’s from an interview she did with BabyCenter. The whole interview is here. The rant is HERE: On why ‘bravery’ is her favorite lesson Nanny McPhee teaches the children: I think it’s good […]
What A Wallet Photo Proves About Humanity (Something GOOD!)
Hi Readers — In response to the story bkkybsbfdk somewhere below, about “Annie’s Mailbox” spreading the belief that a family decal on a car could delight, incite and invite predators, another reader sent in this wonderful study about wallets. Yes, wallets. Researchers in England “dropped” 240 wallets outside, to see which ones would be returned. […]
We KNEW It! Walking to School Good for Kids’ Hearts
Hi Readers! New research shows, “A Simple Morning Walk to School Could Reduce Stress Reactivity…” well, it’s a really long title (41 words!). But basically, Â a new hddhfbisde study at the University of Buffalo concluded that walking to school seems to reduce the amount of stress a heart feels a little later, and that’s good […]
How the “Underwear Police” Story Relates to Free-Range Kids
Hi tbtikaeafk Readers! I just got this very legitimate question about what the heck underwear flammability regulations (see below) have to do with Free-Range Kids, and as I was writing up my response, I realized it made sense to share it. So here you go: a Q &A with — me! Dear Free-Range Kids: How […]