Over the years, we’ve struggled to make family devotions a regular part of our life. So many things got in our way. First and foremost was the fact that our family has children in it. Children who drove me crazy whenever we sat down to read the Bible or pray. They would burp their answers to questions about Moses, or interrupt someone’s contrite prayer to suggest a more heinous offense that should be confessed, or generally wiggle, whine, and complain... Read more
Math has been my enemy. You wouldn’t think so because Baba’s a physicist with a Ph.D. in applied mathematics and Mama was a physics major and computer programmer way back in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s. But he did physics to please his father when he would have rather studied politics. She was a Chinese immigrant who could speak the language of math and science when English was difficult. Mama often intoned, “Math and science is the way to... Read more
Admission: I like O magazine. I sneak it into my cart when Ian isn’t looking. I check it out at the library when he is, but under a pile of biographies. When he discovers issues hidden under dirty laundry in the bathroom, he chides me: Ames, if you want this, let’s just get a subscription. But, of course, I can’t admit that I want it. In Reformed circles, Oprah is on par with Deepak Chopra…Feministic. Edgy. Man-hating. Liberal. Touchy-feely. Do... Read more
What does the future of learning look like? If these apps are any indication, it'll be just fine. Read more
I’m joining the Patheos posts on the Mommy wars, including Rebecca Cusey’s Beyond the Mommy-Wars Bumper Sticker, “Can you cut your trip short and come home?” came the woeful voice over the phone on the first day of my 3rd business trip this spring. “No, I can’t,” I said, “I’m sorry.” “But I NEED you,” said the child. “You’ve got to come home and discipline (sibling’s name)!” Enter a gazillion opportunities to feel guilty with even more judgments. Tina Fey... Read more
Did you realize that last week — April 10 — was “National Siblings Day”? Chances are you missed it like I did. I didn’t hear about it until after the fact, partly because it’s not a very well-publicized occasion… but it should be! Siblings make life fun and meaningful, and help create countless memorable moments among families both young and old. So how did Siblings Day start? National Siblings Day is the brainchild of Claudia Evart, who thought up the... Read more
For an hour, we weren’t Democrats or Republicans, Occupiers or Tea Partiers. We were Americans. And we were proud. Read more
On Monday, I told you about how our kids responded to Trayvon Martin’s death, choosing to take a picture in their hoodies. Today, I’ll share seven points we made with our kids as we talked about the case. As a head’s up, this is a long piece. But as I tell my kids when we are talking about something important, “Sorry, guys, but Mommy’s got a lot to say on this topic.” 1. We all have negative prejudices based on... Read more
I have never met a woman who has “never worked a day in her life.” But here are women I do know. Read more
Just for fun. Sometimes things don’t go as planned. But at least there’s YouTube to spread the joy. Mr. McFeely’s Purple Panda Scares the Bejesus out of Kids Read more
What She Said
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