609. Measuring

I know parents who believe that they have found the “correct” way to parent. Some lecture other people on the “correct” way, and disapprove of people who parent “incorrectly.” Some of these people do have lovable, competent children, and should take some credit for parenting effectively, but I’m wary of attempts to turn one person’s…

Children tend not to eat lunch in school. Some do get hungry, and if there is a good dessert or some kind of delicious junky snack, they’ll eat that. But the sandwich or other main course doesn’t get eaten. It ends up either getting thrown out or taken home. And the lunch box you bought…

Children are frequently told that there’s no limit to what they can learn and do if they believe in themselves. I’ve sometimes seen a poster, in schools and other places, which shows birds flying, and says, “They can because they think they can.” The poster is supposed to help people believe in their own ability…

In most schools, there is a place where teachers can go to be away from non-teachers. They sit around a table or on a couch and talk freely. We (I almost wrote “you”) non-teachers are fine people; we shouldn’t be offended. But it’s nice for teachers to know that there is one place where they…

I once read a book that had very practical advice for parents. I don’t remember the name of the book, or the author, but I particularly remember one bit of advice it gave: “If you deserve a break today, hire a babysitter and go to a slow food restaurant.” My children were the age the…

People have a sometimes annoying tendency to consider their own needs and wants higher priorities than the needs and wants of others. The reason that can be so annoying is that we other people have our own needs and priorities, or, in our finest moments, we think about the interests of still other people, or…