Tag Archives: parenting

Valentine’s Day Crafty Treat

This is a fun activity to do on a cold or rainy day.  Colors can be modified for any holiday.  Kids of practically every age can get involved in making this fun treat. These treats are salty and sweet and … Continue reading

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On second thought… The Moped

In the interest of full disclosure, I want to revisit an issue I wrote about one year ago.  Last March, soon after Horatio left for three months, Dwight tried to persuade us to let him get a moped for transportation.  … Continue reading

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Stop It With the Helicopter Parenting

Back off. Let kids fail; Let them fall from trees and get Bs and Cs. The era of the helicopter parent must end now. Parents are stifling their kids. The evidence is clear. Young adults are leaving home completely unprepared … Continue reading

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Parenting Fails Happen

I enjoyed the Grade 5 Recognition Ceremony at the boys’ school last night.  Watching Bob celebrate the transition from the Lower School to Middle School filled me with joy and just a little bit of sorrow.  I am not a … Continue reading

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Teaching Our Kids to Stick Up For Themselves in School

When your kid is the one who (almost) always follows directions in school, he is bound to be stuck with the kid who (almost) never does.  I understand the concept.  I’m quite clear on the theory that the rule follower … Continue reading

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Vaccine Debate Over: Vaccines Save Lives

The title of this piece seems to state the obvious, right?  So why are the numbers of anti-vaxxers increasing? Fear.  Misguided fear, but fear nonetheless. There is no dispute over the fact that vaccines save lives.  The inoculations developed and … Continue reading

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All in an Expat Weekend

Sometimes weekends pass with nothing out of the ordinary coming to pass.  This was not one of those weekends.  Nothing dramatic happened but we saw several things that made me double take.  Life abroad is full of things we don’t … Continue reading

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Seeking Medical Care Abroad- When Dr. Google Fails, You Have No Choice But to Go Outside Your Comfort Zone

We have a very good Regional Medical Officer where Horatio works.   I’ve taken the boys to see her for various ailments during the six months we have lived in Taipei, but one of the boys has been unwell since October … Continue reading

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Oh The Twists and Turns of This Life We Lead…

The windy mountain road we navigate to get to and from our house is a metaphor for our life here in Taiwan.  It is full of twists and turns and near misses; but overall, lovely and with perks.  Like many … Continue reading

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To Curse or Not To Curse, WTF is a Parent to do?

I’ve never been a big swearer.  I can remember as a 10 year old in fifth grade, when my peers started to use “bad words,”  thinking that using the F word in every other sentence was a cop-out for taking … Continue reading

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