Here, in honor of my daughter’s birthday, an essay celebrating abortion. Not strictly traditional, I know, but Ben Carson and the U.S. House of Representatives inspired me. Lena turns ten today. She is spectacular. And I am very lucky—these days, it seems, very, very lucky—to be able to report that her presence in our lives was totally our decision. Twice.… Continue reading A Good Thing
Category: Parenting
Back to “School”
When I was in elementary school, we had Weekday Religious Education once a week. Yes, it was public school. And yes, of course they knew about the separation of church and state. That’s why it was held in a trailer, a few yards off school grounds. I never went (I wish I had!). Instead I… Continue reading Back to “School”
“How Do We Know There’s No God?”
A different cartoon version of Lena–this time courtesy of BuzzFeed–and an attempt to answer her aforementioned question. (Click on the image to get to the piece. )
Car Ride with Lena
Continuing adventures with The Washington Post, thanks to Senior Graphics Editor (and wonderful collaborator) Samuel Granados. (Click on the image to get to the piece.)
Presidential Aspirations
Just in time for National Prayer Day! Read the “print” version here or click on it to read it online at The Washington Post.
What I Learned from the New York State Tests
I am wary of anything that makes life easier for my kids. In my experience, good parenting often involves making their lives harder, from kale at dinner to daily piano practice, from thank-you-note revisions to “sorry, honey—God’s just pretend.” So what if it’s hard? It’s good for them! That’s one reason I took so long to… Continue reading What I Learned from the New York State Tests
Reading Morality into Religion: A Passover Story
Click on the image to read my latest, which is published at OnFaith (part of FaithStreet.com). Thanks to Corrie Mitchell, my editor there, and to Judy Cohen, my editor everywhere.
Why All the Drama?
Click the headline to go to this week’s essay, courtesy of Salon. With many thanks to the patient and helpful Erin Keane.
March of the Miser
When I told my son Noah that this month at our house would be the March of the Miser, and that therefore we wouldn’t be buying anything, he looked at me evenly and said, “We never buy anything.” We are, in many respects, a frugal family. The kids know that “new books” come from the library and that… Continue reading March of the Miser
The End of Will Power
When my adult piano class disbanded for the summer last June, we promised to return in the fall with a new piece to play for each other. Still giddy from not embarrassing myself at the end-of-year recital, I carried home from that final class a heap of optimism and a bundle of new sheet music.… Continue reading The End of Will Power