Category Archives: Kids

A Mountain of Risk

Posted on May 19, 2011 by Susan H. Greenberg

I am not a particularly cautious parent. My kids ride their bikes to school, take the train into Boston with friends, fly alone to visit relatives. My son plays football and rapels down trees, both girls went to sleep- away … Continue reading →

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While You Were Out

Posted on May 16, 2011 by Susan H. Greenberg

I’m happy to report that on our girls’ weekend, we did our best to “Keep Austin Weird,” as the city’s ironic motto instructs. Laid-back, liberal Austin isn’t weird at all, except compared to the rest of the state. In fact, … Continue reading →

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Why Goldfish are the Worst Pets in the World

Posted on May 5, 2011 by Susan H. Greenberg

Poor Thunder. S/he lived but two days in a shiny glass bowl in our laundry room. My eight-year-old, already wise to the whims of  goldfish life, was adamant that he not reside in her room so she didn’t have to … Continue reading →

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A Jewish Easter

Posted on April 24, 2011 by Susan H. Greenberg

When I married an atheist 17 years ago, I never imagined an Easter like this: 12:15 a.m. Husband retrieves CVS bags from car. For the first time in our marriage, they are filled with candy and plastic eggs, to appease … Continue reading →

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Nightmare at the American Girl Doll Store

Posted on April 22, 2011 by Susan H. Greenberg

I very nearly made it through parenthood without ever setting foot in an American Girl Doll store. My mother took my oldest daughter when she was 5 or 6, indulging her with a tea-party lunch and matching blue silk pajamas … Continue reading →

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Spray Painting the Grave

Posted on April 19, 2011 by Susan H. Greenberg

We were driving past a cemetery when my eight-year-old asked, “Why are some stones big and fancy and others tiny?” I told her that some people were important, or rich, or maybe their families really missed them and wanted everyone … Continue reading →

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Why My Kids Will Never Play Carnegie Hall

Posted on April 12, 2011 by Susan H. Greenberg

Ever since Amy Chua’s explosive book Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother  came out, I have been thinking a lot about what kind of parent I am, and whether it’s my fault that none of my kids excels at anything in … Continue reading →

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More Popsicles, Please

Posted on April 3, 2011 by Susan H. Greenberg

Postscript: Today’s New York Times reports not only that scientists found no correlation between dyes and hyperactivity in most children, but that food without coloring isn’t any fun. And for my 8-year-old, fun is pretty much the key ingredient of life. I … Continue reading →

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Bring Back the Talent Show

Posted on March 27, 2011 by Susan H. Greenberg

I made the mistake of seeing the Broadway production of “Billy Elliot” while helping my eight-year-old plan her act for the annual elementary school Variety Show. No matter how self-righteously I  deride those theater parents for pushing their children too … Continue reading →

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The Co-Ed Sleepover

Posted on March 20, 2011 by Susan H. Greenberg

My 16-year-old was in a van heading home from Johns Island, SC, where she’d been on a school-sponsored house-building trip when the first text came in:  could her friend, who I’ll call Taylor, sleep over the night they got home? They wanted … Continue reading →

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