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Learning Without Boundaries

I started this post yesterday and then erased it and then started it again. What my children are proposing to do is remarkable. . .and yet they are not. Don’t get me wrong. . .I think they’re fantastically remarkable. What I mean is they’re ordinary children. Anyone can do what they’re going to do and yet the right set of circumstances and learning opportunities presented itself to spark the idea. . .and it doesn’t matter to them how big it is. So the point of my post is not to brag about my kids. I think all kids are capable … Continue reading →

Ask a Baby Blogger: Why My Toddlers Aren’t Allowed to Talk Back

Question: I’ve heard you say a few times that you don’t allow your toddlers to talk back to you. At first, I thought you meant preschoolers but in one of your posts you even make mention of insisting that your 14 month old doesn’t say ‘no’ to you. How exactly do you accomplish this? I don’t mean to offend you, but you sound horribly strict. I am going to have to answer this in two parts. First, I’ll give you the ‘why’ of dealing with toddlers and then in another blog I’ll explain how exactly we gain their cooperation. Yes, … Continue reading →

Learning to Set Healthy Examples With Your Gift-Giving

Gift-giving can be a big, troublesome issue for many of us—we may have grown up in a world where gifts were given as a means of control or with “strings attached” or we may feel pressured to give gifts in order to keep up appearances or make sure that we are doing what is expected. Learning how to give gifts freely, without ties or expectations, can be a wonderful legacy to pass on to our own children—but it may not be something that comes naturally for us. Gift-giving can really be something we do compulsively—giving gifts that are too large … Continue reading →

Does Giftedness Matter if You Are Not In School?

If your child is an adept, focused and curious learner who has a deep empathy for others and a desire to delve into new areas of knowledge, you may have a gifted child. I went to school. I was also a gifted child. Had I not been in school, would this have mattered all that much? I think so. Giftedness frames your personality. As a parent, it is important that you understand how your child interacts with the world, and giftedness is part of this. Gifted children challenge you to reconsider the boundaries of learning. Traditional schooling may be too … Continue reading →

Adults with Asperger’s: Boundary Problems

Because people who suffer from Asperger’s disorder have difficulty is reading other people’s body language and even understanding the more subtle aspects of normal human verbal communication, adults with the condition can experience an array of interpersonal problems. Mainly though, it is the people who interact with adult Asperger’s who have the problem, rather than the sufferer themselves. This is because they are often either not aware of the hurt and trouble they are causing, or more commonly, they will not listen to significant others who tell them that their behavior is inappropriate. Let’s look at the case of Alison. … Continue reading →

Moose vs. the Patio Door

My dog Moose learned a new trick this week… one nobody taught him. I’ll start by saying that Moose doesn’t seem to be the smartest dog out there. When I first adopted him in January 2004, he was a handful. He didn’t answer to his name, he didn’t really know any commands, and he had very few boundaries. But over the years together, I’ve learned that Moose can be very clever when he wants to be. I already knew he could open doors — on more than one occasion, he’s managed to push the handle down on the bathroom door … Continue reading →

Has Becoming a Parent Made You a Better Person?

Most parents know all too well that kids learn by example, which is why the majority of us try to model good behavior. Now that you are a parent do you always remember to return your shopping cart to its designated area? Do you always remember to say “please” and “thank you” even after the guy at McDonald’s erased your order… twice, then made you wait 15 minutes for ONE Happy Meal? Do you always practice proper store etiquette and take time to return the box of animal crackers your toddler swiped from the shelf even if it means backtracking … Continue reading →

Emotional Intelligence for a Single Parent

A few years back there was a bit of a buzz about “emotional intelligence.” The idea was promoted by Daniel Goleman and he came up with some tests so that individuals could figure out what their ability was to perceive, respond and manage one’s own emotions and the capacity to also perceive and respond to the emotions of others. The theory was that we needed to not only be book smart and aware of facts and figures, but that our human relationships would also be stronger and more fulfilling if we developed these emotional intelligence skills. As a single parent, … Continue reading →

What is Unschooling?

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One new hot educational term that some of you may be hearing lately is the word unschooling. There are several different ideas about the meaning of the term unschooling. The most common concept derived from the term unschooling is the idea of educating without school. Some would consider this to be homeschooling. However, unschooling is a little different. The concept is even further from the typical school setting than homeschool. Unschooling takes into consider more of the process of learning rather than teaching content. The learner is more in control and learns based on individual styles, personalities, and choices. The … Continue reading →

Expect a Few Practice Leaps Before Leaving the Nest

My own personal experience with leaving home has left me a little skewed. I may have mentioned before, but I turned 18, graduated a half-year early from high school, enrolled in college, rented my own apartment and moved out—all within about a week. Of course, I had been planning, budgeting and saving for nearly two years leading up to my emancipation but I did it boldly and never looked back. I think that since this was the way I did it, I assumed that everyone leaves the nest with such assuredness. The truth is, however, that most kids need to … Continue reading →