Families Rising

Funny, how a bike changes a kid. Last summer, my 6-year-old son learned how to ride a 2-wheeler, and by the time fall came, it got too cold too fast to keep it up. This year, he was back up on the first warm day.

Earlier this week, my 12-year-old son told me he was a little nervous about asking a girl in his class if she wanted to go out, and he wanted my advice.

My rather doltish response: "Um, where are you going to go?"

This blog entry is written by Amy only. While Marc hung out with our kids, I chose last week to attend a summit meeting offered by a national coalition called the Campaign For A Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC). I had no idea what I'd be hearing, or whether I'd be spending two precious days of free time on a worthy endeavor.

Hey there!

It's been a while since I've blogged here but here's something worth sharing.

I don't usually quote from comments people leave when they join our project's mailing list, but the one we received this morning was so eloquent and heartfelt, it really needs to be shared. Even more importantly, it comes from a mom who 'gets it.'

"It is not possession of a womb that now holds women back, but its use." That's a line from a brilliant article published earlier this week in the British magazine New Statesman. As journalist Richard Reeves explains, in Britain the pay gap between men and women is virtually gone, until they become parents.

It's funny how things catch you, make your heart skip a beat.

A few days back I was talking with a working mom who is newly pregnant. She's someone I really like and respect. Anyway, I asked her what she intended to do regarding maternity leave and she told me she expected that she would take a few weeks off from work.

Jessica DeGroot from The Third Path Institute and I have recently been discussing some of the factors that help dads get more involved with their families. Here's #1 on her list:

There's been a lot of writing lately regarding the new generation that's crept into their Twenties and are now seeking their own slice of the American Pie. Words like 'narcissistic' and 'most self centered' are used fairly liberally towards this new crop of kids.