What We Did On Our Summer Vacation
My birthday falls at the end of July, and the timing of it has always made me a bit plaintive. Growing up in the South, my…
In which my daughter explores the cosmetic benefits of a good hot shower
Preschooler, who has been allowed to stay up far too late so that she can finish cutting out the stars for the American flag she is…
My daughter’s first poem
Composed after watching the Dinosaur Train episode “Campout”, which features Patricia Palaeobatrachus: Palaeobatrachus, Palaeobatrachus, Ribbit, Ribbit, What are you doing, Talking about us?
Science News Roundup: The Bright! Shiny! Objects! Edition
A mini-moon for a mini-planet, the universe in biological terms, and other news of the week.
Book Review: The Important Book
The Important Book By Margaret Wise Brown Illustrated by Leonard Weisgard HarperTrophy, 1989 Age Range: 4-8 The important thing about this book is that it is…
“Why can’t cats drink milk?”
When my daughter saw the Aristocats slurping happily at a bowl of cream, she naturally wanted to pour a bowl for our own cats. I had to shoot this down. Although our normally timid grey tabby would body slam our calico out of the way for a taste of the creamy stuff, the sad fact is our tabby’s tummy can’t take it. Why can’t cats drink milk?
“Why isn’t the laundromat a real mat for laundry?”
While watching an episode of WordWorld, my daughter learned that you can change the meaning of words by shoving two words together. “Mail” and “box” become “mailbox,” for example. The glorious new rule doesn’t work for laundromat however. Why not? How did laundromats get their name?
In which my daughter plans to move south for the summer
Preschooler, suffering through a heat wave with only spotty access to air conditioning, on hearing that most homes in Texas have central air: “I guess I’ll…
The Rules of Bike Riding
Father, preparing to allow his only child to ride a two-wheeled bike for the first time: “What are the rules of bike riding?”
Daughter: “No falling.”
Science News Roundup: Shuttle Program Signs Off
My husband was kind of sad yesterday. When I asked why, he pointed out that he grew up just under two miles from Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. He went to school with the kids of the shuttle astronauts, and one of his Sunday School teachers was an astronaut.
Yesterday the space shuttle landed for the final time.
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