August 31, 2012

Thoughts on the End of August

Denise Schipani / 11 Comments / summer /

It’ll come as no surprise to people who know me personally that I can be … let’s call it cranky. Which is why those who know me are often tempted to tell me to just relax, just enjoy your time with your boys, just get into the relaxed rhythm of summer. Be like everyone else! […]

August 19, 2012

American Girl Doll the “Price” of Admission for a Birthday Party? FAIL!

Denise Schipani / 46 Comments / Ask the Mean Mom, play /

This’ll be short, because it’s a short story that’s left me, on the how-do-I-feel spectrum, adrift between puzzled and spitting mad, and I’m interested in opinions. The other night, at our friends’ house for pizza, my friend, Sally, mentioned that her daughter, Phoebe, who is five, was just invited to one of her pals’ birthday […]

August 7, 2012

What Swimming Lessons Taught Me About Letting Kids Fail (And Why Madeline Levine is My New Hero)

Denise Schipani / 7 Comments / in the news/media, parenting research / kids and failure, Madeline Levine, Missy Franklin, New York Times, swimming lessons, Teach Your Children Well, The Price of Privilege /

My children finished up their annual six weeks of day camp last Friday. We tried a different camp this year, partly because our friends were switching and we do a bit of carpooling; partly because it’s less expensive than even the relatively inexpensive YMCA the boys have been going to for four previous years; and […]

Monthly Archives: August 2012

Thoughts on the End of August

American Girl Doll the “Price” of Admission for a Birthday Party? FAIL!

What Swimming Lessons Taught Me About Letting Kids Fail (And Why Madeline Levine is My New Hero)