Why #TimesUp made last night’s Golden Globes important family viewing. | Thinking Parent
Knowing that the Golden Globes would be more about female empowerment than fashion this year, with more red carpet questions and speeches about #MeToo movement and activism and gender parity and social justice, I decided to let my kids stay up and watch the awards...
Is Greatest Showman good for kids? More than good, it’s important. | Thinking : Parent
If by now you haven’t heard about The Greatest Showman, well where have you been? Wrapping gifts or something? Geez. This has been one of the biggest PR blitzes I’ve seen in a long time. And that was before its three Golden Globe nominations. There’s...
5 expert, guilt-free strategies to make me-time a reality for more moms.
Given the work I do daily with so many amazingly strong, tuned-in, competent juggling moms, a little bit of smoke comes out of my ears every time I read lines like, it’s so important to set aside “me time” every single day to be an even better mom and...
Getting blunt with my daughters, because #metoo.
“You have to learn to tell the server what you want,” I insisted. She winced. “Go on…” No dice. For some reason, my outspoken, truth-telling, totally-not-shy ten year old is having issues asking for a waffle at the neighborhood diner. This is the diner where we know...
The Disney Channel’s first gay character makes me shout yay for Andi Mack! | Thinking Parent
Last season, my family discovered the Disney Channel show Andi Mack and we were instantly hooked. This series for tweens and young teens pulled us in with its smart writing, well-developed characters, and diverse cast. But after the recent Season 2 premiere, I love...
Trump’s proposed tax bill will keep parents from adopting. That sucks for everyone.
As an adoptive mom, I’m committed to fighting against Trump’s new tax bill that, among other things, eliminates the essential adoption tax credit for families. Here’s why. Adoption is expensive. Like, crazy expensive. While it’s 100% worth it...
In defense of parents: A response to the child-free haters of the world.
If you ask me, anonymous avatars on the internet don’t need more license to shame parents and our children. But alas, a recent Lifehacker article by Patrick Allan explicitly asked non-parents to name their grievances against those people who deigned to bear...
A dedicated Boy Scout troop leader on why allowing girls into the organization won’t ruin life as we know it. | Thinking: Parent
Boy Scouts of America made a huge announcement yesterday: starting next year, girls will be able to enroll in their Cub Scouting program, and by 2019 be qualified to earn the coveted Eagle Scout rank. And of course, there is much debate, outrage, celebration, and...
The Roots create a Schoolhouse Rock-ish video about slavery. Here’s why every parent should watch. | Thinking Parent
Last week’s episode of Blackish focused on Columbus Day and why some Americans still celebrate or honor a man who really was no hero. The entire episode was powerful — and brilliantly funny, as the show always is — but it was I Am A Slave from The...
School librarian politely declines some Dr Seuss books from Melania Trump, Internet goes insane. | Thinking: Parent
Earlier this week, I was introduced to the story of Cambridge, MA librarian Liz Phipps Soeiro, who graciously and thoughtfully declined to accept a box of Dr. Seuss books sent to her by Melania Trump as they were to a number of other high-achieving schools. I admit my...
Should your kids be playing tackle football? 6 things that happened when this mom said no. | Thinking Parent
Crisp mornings and fall weekends mean one thing here in the South: football. After school we see the kids out on the field practicing, and neighbors are making plans to tailgate. And while my husband played football through middle and high school (and even declined...Hi! We’re Kristen + Liz!
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