Making parenting more fun, easy, meaningful and joyous
The night before the Global Climate Strike, I show Kubla Greta Thunberg’s TED talk. I think it should be required viewing for all parents and school-age children. https://www.ted.com/talks/greta_thunberg_the_disarming_case_to_act_right_now_on_climate After the 11 minute video, silence. A
Kubla invites a friend to our home after school. They have a great time. I don’t. His friend is disrespectful. He doesn’t listen. He’s loud. He makes a mess. His mom comes to pick him
Kubla used to have bad dreams a couple times a month. One night he dreamed he was all alone and couldn’t find me or Liping. The next night he was afraid to go to sleep.
Our family invented our own special kiss. For bedtime. After a fight. Any time we want to feel extra close. Kubla and Liping both kiss my face at the same time. Then Kubla and I
Kubla is 19 months old. Bubbles. Warm water. Rubber duckies. What could be better? Bath time with his beloved Mom. He poops all over the tub. Bath time is suddenly over. What happened? The next
I sent this letter to the principal of Kubla’s school: More often than not during pick-up, I see that Kubla hasn’t eaten most of his lunch. I ask him why and he says there isn’t
It’s time to introduce Kubla to some thinking games. Chess, checkers, Connect Four. I teach him the rules. We play a few games. I warn him what I’ll do next if he makes this move
Kubla and I go to the Natural History museum. He wants a toy from the dinosaur exhibit gift shop. At dinner the night before, we talk about a foreign mining disaster in the news. Dozens
There’s an old Samurai saying—Die before going into battle—the idea is to accept death so you can fight without fear. Kubla and I go to the beach. In less than 30 seconds he’s wet and
My niece is no damsel in distress, looking pretty as she waits to be saved by some prince. Ever since she was a baby, she’s been a queen. What’s the difference? Let my brother explain
