Tag Archives: kids

The moment of school dropoff

Every time I drop Moomin off at school I feel a sentimental pang as he walks away, looking so self-possessed and independent and alone, trundling his giant backpack on wheels. These days, he looks a bit cool and teenagery. Just … finish reading The moment of school dropoff

Posted in Books, Parenting | Tagged , , , | 364 Comments

The Domes at Oz Farm

This month Moomin and I went for a weekend trip to stay in a geodesic dome at Oz Farms with Oblomovka and his daughter, and Yatima and her family. I spent most of the weekend in bed looking out from … finish reading The Domes at Oz Farm

Posted in Parenting | Tagged , , , | 64 Comments

Reading with kids: Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson

For bedtime reading, Moomin and I are reading Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson, one of my favorite kids’ books. It has a lot of great scope for imagination as its hero David climbs the stairs in a creepy ruined mansion … finish reading Reading with kids: Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson

Posted in Books, Parenting | Tagged , , | 43 Comments

Kids and houseboats

Guest post today from Moomin! He wrote about our liveaboard life for a school report and it didn’t come out sounding like this guy’s. It’s good to know that Moomin noticed the old sailmaker was a bit “off” since actually … finish reading Kids and houseboats

Posted in Boats!, Books | Tagged , , , , , | 65 Comments

Best Mashups for Kids

I love great mashups but a bunch of them are really sweary or sexist so I skip over them in the car if kids are around, less because I’m uptight about it and more because they would find it embarrassing. … finish reading Best Mashups for Kids

Posted in Creativity, Music | Tagged , , , , , , , | 62 Comments

Meme Day: Kittens Inspired by Kittens

This week’s meme is the “Kittens Inspired by Kittens” video! It’s a funny YouTube video, great for kids, from 2008 of a little kid about 6 years old, Maddie Kelly, pretending to read a book called Kittens. Each photo gets … finish reading Meme Day: Kittens Inspired by Kittens

Posted in Humor | Tagged , , , , , | 18 Comments

We saw a seal!

Recently I took the kids out on Redwood Creek in the early morning at low tide in the Daisy. Very early in the morning, there’s almost no wind, and the water is glassy with gentle ripples. It’s the best time … finish reading We saw a seal!

Posted in Boats! | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Kids and wheelchair manners

Please stop yelling at your kids just because they’re 20 feet away from a wheelchair! Nothing bad is going to happen. It really pisses me off when someone grabs their kid, yanks them “out of the way” and yells at … finish reading Kids and wheelchair manners

Posted in Activism, Disability | Tagged , , , | 117 Comments

Free in the sea!

Tonight while we were reading 20,000 Leagues Beneath the Sea we got to one of my favorite parts of the book. Captain Nemo gave a little speech about how much he loves the sea, where he’s free from unjust laws. … finish reading Free in the sea!

Posted in Boats!, Books, Creativity | Tagged , , , , , , | 24 Comments

Best New Wave Songs for Kids

Okay, I agree. Rock Lobster is New Wave, not punk even though I put it in my list of the best punk rock songs for kids. Fine. And I don’t get to be punk if I wasn’t tearing up the … finish reading Best New Wave Songs for Kids

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 65 Comments

Plants vs. Zombies cake

Moomin has been playing Plants Vs. Zombies this summer and will explain all the levels and what powers the plants have to anyone who will listen. This last weekend a friend of mine made a Plants vs. Zombies cake! Plants … finish reading Plants vs. Zombies cake

Posted in Creativity, Parties! | Tagged , , , , , , | 39 Comments

How to dye kids’ hair funny colors

My hair has been purple for over 10 years. I bleach and dye it myself. I’ve also gotten to be an expert at dying kids’ hair funny colors. People ask me a lot how to put a colored streak in … finish reading How to dye kids’ hair funny colors

Posted in Projects | Tagged , , , , | 35 Comments

Best Punk Rock Songs for Kids

Punk rock is the most awesome music for kids. It’s loud, energetic, expressive of emotion, and if you can get your kids listening to it, half your work of political education is done. Plus you’ll never have to listen to … finish reading Best Punk Rock Songs for Kids

Posted in Creativity | Tagged , , , , | 65 Comments

Travel with a kid – and a wheelchair

I set out to have a perfect day trip with Moomin this spring, right after a stressful time at work. IN fact it was a couple of weeks where I would pick him up from the aftercare at school at … finish reading Travel with a kid – and a wheelchair

Posted in Disability | Tagged , , , , , , | 99 Comments

Treasure Hunt with Puzzles: The Big Hunt

To prepare a good treasure hunt, first look for good hiding places. Then decide what order you want the hunters to range over the territory. Give yourself a lot of time for preparation. In a small space like a backyard … finish reading Treasure Hunt with Puzzles: The Big Hunt

Posted in Parties! | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

Zombie 80s prom in my closet

Over the last few weeks of taking Moomin to dance class and watching the “street jazz” girls dance around to “Thriller” I have learned that the latest fashion seems to be very, very tight shirts that go way down over … finish reading Zombie 80s prom in my closet

Posted in Creativity, Parties! | Tagged , , | 19 Comments

Being dragons together!

At the game con last weekend I played D&D and ran around with Moomin and some other kids, friends of the family and so on. The night before we played Carcassone and had some great conversations about Python, web page … finish reading Being dragons together!

Posted in Creativity, Parties! | Tagged , , , , | 76 Comments

Pocket microscope + camera = awesome!

Yesterday we got a little pocket microscope with its own built-in light that runs off a watch battery. It really does fit in a pocket and works beautifully. Best of all, this pocket microscope was less than $15. This morning … finish reading Pocket microscope + camera = awesome!

Posted in Creativity, Projects, Science | Tagged , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

That green stuff scrolling on a black window

Good questions that Moomin’s awesome friend just asked me: Do you feel better yet? Are you only a little bit sick? Are you working in your bed? Are you programming in javascript? What programming languages do you use? What’s that? … finish reading That green stuff scrolling on a black window

Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Secret San Francisco city parks

I love San Francisco! This weekend I took Moomin to Caffeinated Comics at Mission and 30th, an Internet cafe and comic book store. We had to repeat a bit of comic book store ethics, to wit, don’t stand there reading … finish reading Secret San Francisco city parks

Posted in Disability | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments