by Shawna | Feb 29, 2016 | Main Blog
It is both humbling and an honor to be asked for permission to translate one’s blog post. That’s just what my friend and Sudbury colleague, Christel Hartkamp, requested for my most recent blog post, “The Pursuit of Happiness.” Thanks to...
by Shawna | Jan 21, 2016 | Main Blog
“In this age of intense confusion, there is just one goal upon which all parents can agree, and that is, whether they are tiger moms or hippie moms, helicopters or drones, our kids’ happiness is paramount.” — Jennifer Senior, author of All Joy and No Fun:...
by Shawna | Dec 7, 2015 | Main Blog
“Can I have a sticker?” asked the bright-eyed and lively five-year-old girl at the grocery store checkstand. “Say ‘please’, honey,” admonished the girl’s mom. “Please,” repeated the girl, suddenly subdued and almost inaudible. Averting her eyes, the girl shyly took...
by Shawna | Nov 14, 2015 | Main Blog, Uncategorized
The Huffington Post called out this three-minute sketch on YouTube from The BreakWomb, performed by three women who find comedy in their lives as parents. Thanks to Bruce Smith, for pointing me to this link. It’s never advisable to read YouTube comments, but I...
by Shawna | Nov 5, 2015 | Main Blog
Who knows what’s best for a child? In this series (Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3), I have argued that each child should be able to decide what’s best for themselves. It means that, as parents and adults who interact with children, we commit to trusting kids to observe,...
by Shawna | Oct 23, 2015 | Main Blog
In the two previous posts, I began exploring the question of who knows what’s best for a child. Stories about “safe” playgrounds, tooth brushing, reading Tintin, and money management provide context for examining the question within a familiar context. Here’s more...
