Subcategories of Respect for the Individual
Potty Learning: When they’re ready, they’re ready
I remember the day I first heard the term “potty learning” as if it was yesterday. I was at a Little Sprouts class with my daughter and during one of the parent discussions I asked Susan how to potty train. Apparently this was a hot topic because most of the other...
Easing the transition from school to home
All the excitement and stresses of the new school year are upon us! It is a huge transition to move out of summer mode for the whole family. If it is your child's first year, multiply everything by 300! Here are some tips that have been helpful to families over the...
When parents shouldn’t say no
A recent Motherlode blog (“Confessions of a Mother Who Couldn’t Say No”) and its comment thread has me thinking—about my role as a parent, the lessons I hope my children learn from me and the ugly misguidedness of parental guilt. The post was written by a mom who is...
Grandparent Adventures
I really love my time with my grandchildren, ages 7 and 5. This summer we have planned Camp Susan on Mondays and Wednesdays. We are together from around 9:30 in the morning to 3:30 or so. Being with children of all ages is my passion. My own kids have always called...
“I’m a possibility”
by Jennifer Sneeden My daughter Emily has spent the past few days wandering around the house saying, “Mommy, I’m a possibility.” I’m not sure that she has any idea what “possibility” means, perhaps she just likes the feel of it as it rolls off her tongue, or maybe she...
Flying
This time last year my youngest son, Steven, had been safely back home in the States for about a month, after a year in Afghanistan. My heart still crashed through my stomach at a radio mention of casualties in Afghanistan. I stood paralyzed at the grocery store with...
Turning “Let’s Go” into “Let Go”
by Sunflower mom, Angela Malson Originally posted on Eco Womb blog As we hiked the hill against the wind, she was determined. "C'mon, mama, let's go." Her little body cold but amazingly strong. Her mind and soul even stronger. Her will unmatched as she had it in her...
Planting Seeds of Peace
It is so hard, and maybe even useless, to try to make sense of the violence and tragedy that we face daily on this planet. When children are killed by guns, swept away by tsunamis or die of cancer in our neighbors arms we are pained to the core. The feelings of grief,...
Steady Yourself
A little boy glanced at me from across the playground. Both his hands were on a big green post. He took his first steps to climb down off of a small tower as our eyes met. I saw one hand flutter, a tiny wiggle in his body, some small unsteadiness. He looked away,...
It’s Election Day
I woke up this morning thinking about today's election, and wrote this essay on my personal blog. My fellow Sunflower bloggers suggested I share it with you, our lovely readers. It's my perspective as a parent as I think about today's election and the state of a...