Red's Wrap
Happiness. It's relative.
Tag: Parenting
What We Are Thinking When We Ask Politely
“You need to get your lazy-ass self off that couch and go do something useful.” “You need to work on your parenting skills.” “I’m not having a conversation with you, dumb-ass. You’ve got nothing to say that interests me. Just get your parked-like-a-cement-truck-ass in… Continue Reading “What We Are Thinking When We Ask Politely”
The Poison of the ‘Still Face’
What is the big deal about the ‘still face’? Simple. It makes people crazy. Anyone who adopts internationally is warned about the effects of the lack of human interaction on children raised in institutions. Oh, children are fed and clothed but they aren’t talked… Continue Reading “The Poison of the ‘Still Face’”
Shark Week
The fundamental difference between my husband and me on the issue of childrearing comes down to this. Shark Week. Shark Week and Dog Week, exactly six months apart, are revered times in this house, well, for some people. Dog Week, a week in February… Continue Reading “Shark Week”
My Father’s Day Message to Young Dads
Here’s my Father”s Day message to Dads, especially young Dads. You matter. It doesn’t matter what your wife or your girlfriend says. It doesn’t matter if you don’t know how to do anything useful or even if you have a job. You matter. Don’t… Continue Reading “My Father’s Day Message to Young Dads”
Don’t Sass Me
My mother slapped me once for being impudent. Let me say that another way. My mother slapped me once. In my entire life. And the reason for the slap was that I was impudent, a word she used frequently as in “Don’t be impudent,… Continue Reading “Don’t Sass Me”
Poachers
When I started my blog, I had a list of topics. Poaching was the number one item. It irked me the most. But I never wrote about it. Why? Because the weird feeling an adoptive parent gets when another adult presumes an adoptive child… Continue Reading “Poachers”
Surviving 40 Years’ of Kids Tantrums
The question is who survived 40 years of tantrums? Me or the kids? Both, but there were some close calls. I am not naturally endowed with patience. I also never studied the art and science of parenting although I should have. I plowed in,… Continue Reading “Surviving 40 Years’ of Kids Tantrums”
Parenting Throwdown
Today was a parenting throwdown that started at 5:39 a.m. with a text, ran in and out the doors of many gyms, scored a few goals, committed no fouls, and made sure no one was thrown out of the game. And I am exhausted.… Continue Reading “Parenting Throwdown”
100 Posts and One Little Girl
Every Saturday we take our 6-year old granddaughter to a Rec Department ballet class in a nearby high school. The class meets in a room used by the special ed program; every week, there are new questions written on the board. “What will you… Continue Reading “100 Posts and One Little Girl”
Castaways: Remember that It Takes a Village
This is a story about four girls, an old canoe, a sunny day, and a south wind on Lake Superior. It’s also a story about happiness and risk, ignorance and gratitude, and the ambivalence we feel as parents, especially adoptive parents, when other people… Continue Reading “Castaways: Remember that It Takes a Village”
Snow Door | wisconsinacademy.org
Listen to Jan read her essay “Billy” presented on WUWM’s Lake Effect
Jan’s essay “At the Breakfast Bar” on WUWM Lake Effect
Jan’s essay “The Parish Hall,” on WUWM Lake Effect
“Fury Cannot Touch Me,” Modern Love, NYT, 9/29/11
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