Seven tips for concerned grandparents
If you’re concerned about your child’s parenting style, you’re not alone. Here are a few ways to mitigate conflict in your relationship with your adult children and grandchildren.
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The isolated childhood
I love the first day of school. It is a hopeful day. From Lydia’s early school years, I’ve been struck by the sense of unadulterated excitement and energy that rises from the schoolyard as friends see each other after long weeks away. A new community is being created. Some children and teachers are missed –…
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A refreshing change of perspective
“Miss Prim had been called all kinds of things – precise, punctual, and practical. Sometimes even stern, strict, and scary. But never welcoming or whimsical, and certainly not wild. Miss Prim believed in no-nonsense.” So begins author Katy Rose’s playful, lyrical introduction to Miss Prim, a controlling, grouchy woman who terrifies neighborhood children with threats…
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206 bones
Just a few weeks ago, my wife Louisa and I were in a serious car accident in which we each broke a lot of our ribs. Thankfully, our ribs will heal in time, but my broken ribs got me thinking about the rest of my skeleton. There are 206 different bones in a human skeleton….
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The emotional cost of housing insecurity
Based on the childhood experiences of author and illustrator Lita Judge, this poignant, exquisitely illustrated children’s picture book gives young readers a window into housing insecurity and how it impacts families. Old Blue, a dated van, serves as the home of a girl and her sister, their parents, a dog and a cat. Life on…
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A ban? More effective action is possible
It’s easy to support bans on social media use for children under 16. It is widely known that TikTok, Instagram and other apps are addictive, and that overuse contributes to mental health issues. Protecting children sounds good and rallies political support. However, when one takes time to ask questions, it is less clear that the…
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Seeking the well-being of trans kids
“My child has just come out as transgender. What do I do?” These days, it seems that no matter how you respond, someone will judge you harshly. These questions take on special urgency as the average age of coming out as trans is steadily dropping, and there are increasingly effective treatment options for transforming bodies….
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The good shepherd
One of the most famous psalms in the Bible is Psalm 23, which begins: “The Lord is my shepherd.” It was written by King David who knew something about shepherds because when he was a boy, he had to look after his father’s sheep. Now you may think that being a shepherd is a pretty…
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My neighbour’s story matters
If you were to step into a Grade 7 language arts class at Ottawa Christian School a year ago, you might hear students asking questions not found in textbooks: What was your childhood like? What challenges shaped your life? What wisdom would you pass on to us? These questions are at the heart of My…
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Being a door to the community
Young Wendell and Mama walk downtown, each carrying a card. On the way, they pass Mr. David, who is sound asleep on a wooden bench. Wendell loves to look at all the doors they pass – wooden doors, glass doors, metal doors, doors that are at the top of stairs and doors that are at…
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The great grape to raisin reversal
This is a story about a great reversal. You know that “to reverse” means to go backwards, like reversing a car. A reversal can also mean a change of some sort, and I’m going to tell you about a reversal having to do with grapes. Of course, you know how delicious grapes are. Grapes are…
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A different kind of superhero
When I was a kid (a long time ago), there weren’t as many superheroes as there are now. But I do remember that the main superhero was Superman. The Superman radio show (this was before we had TV) would always start with a loud roaring noise and then a shout: “Look up! What is it?…
