Progressive Parenting

Understanding that the social norms have become barbaric, we have reclaimed our role as parents & as teachers

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13 Women Have Accused Bill Cosby of Rape — So Why Has America Forgiven Him?

It's time we deal with the man behind Mr. Huxtable.

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THE LINCOLN:

WEST END LIGHTS

One night a year when ordinary people do something quite extraordinary

[parentshop]

jennwitte:

broke a couple of sticks of chalk on this one //

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Brew the perfect cup! Steeping Instructions.

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Perfect Cuppa

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innocence. 

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You know when your boyfriend breaks up with you but can't stop following you around and texting you, even though you asked him not to? Imagine that he turned that behavior — which, by the way, is sometimes called a "felony" — into a full-blown album, music video, tour and social media campaign named after you.

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Hypervigilance- an enhanced state of sensory sensitivity accompanied by an exaggerated intensity of behaviors whose purpose is to detect threats.

en.wikipedia.org

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The Lady Gaga-R. Kelly Music Video Is As Terrible As You Thought it Would Be

"Imagine that you are a pop star who wrote a song called 'Do What U Want' that prominently features the line 'do what you want with my body.'

Now imagine that you invite a singer who has been the subject of several lawsuits alleging sexual assaults on minors to be the featured artist on the song. Then imagine the song’s music video is directed by a photographer who has been accused of exploiting models and coercing them into sexual activity. Then imagine that the concept of the video involves said featured artist playing the role of a doctor who does whatever he wants with your body while you are out cold on the operating table. That’s the story behind the Terry Richardson-directed Lady Gaga video 'Do What U Want,' which features R. Kelly."

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sonder

n. the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own—populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries and inherited craziness—an epic story that continues invisibly around you like an anthill sprawling deep underground, with elaborate passageways to thousands of other lives that you’ll never know existed, in which you might appear only once, as an extra sipping coffee in the background, as a blur of traffic passing on the highway, as a lighted window at dusk. -The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

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Hiding out...

So, my youngest decided she'd like to start her own business. After hearing her clever pitch, I agreed and she got started. The craft supplies appear to have vomited all over my house and it is absolute mayhem in here. Have a few spaces booked for upcoming craft markets/fairs, so we are busy planning, preparing and stockpiling.  We shall return! 

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“I had forty acres and a new home out in California. I was working as a stone mason. I could bring in $6000 cash some weeks. Then I was walking home one night and someone tried to kill me. I got brain damage. I lost my sense of smell, my sense of taste, most of my hearing, and now I can barely stand without getting dizzy. I must have fallen and cracked my head open thirty times since then. Everything I knew has been washed out into the water. I’ve tried to commit suicide several times.”

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Every paper cup has a story. End Of.

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Toronto Busker Jeff Burke plays Radiohead's Creep on the Theremin

[meyong]

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Who is this? Anyone?

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Pledge

I have had people cast judgement about my choice to educate & engage my children in federal, provincial and city politics (in an age appropriate manner), but as you know by now, I am a freethinker. I don't feed into fearmongering and I feel quite proud that my kids know and understand enough to have a healthy debate of their own when issues in our city or our community arise. That said, I didn't really bat an eye when agreeing to attend to a political campaign launch recently and I school my youngest in the evening, so this just meant she would also be attending. I had a quick chat with her about behaviour and then need to sit quietly and listen, so my guess is she was probably dreading every minute in the lead up to the launch, but we had some doodle books on hand which helped. She sat quietly and attentively, taking in all of the sights, sounds and stories. She perked up when she was clear about a point, glanced at me to check in that she understood it correctly and when I smiled knowingly, she applauded enthusiastically. She caught the good, the bad and the ugly and missed out on a few big words and unnecessary filler. When it came time to discuss campaign support (signs, voluntary hours and money), they began calling out the amounts beginning at $750 (the maximum for an individual to donate to a campaign) and explained the process/rebate the city offers in return for this generous support. Can I hear $750? Anyone in the room want to start the evening off with a contribution of $750? Then, up like a flash, there is my kids, hand flailing about,she is sold! $750!! If you are holding your breath wondering how the hell I handled that, you might be surprised to find that she gazed up at me with bright eyes and looking for a sign of approval that is exactly what she got. For me, this was the ultimate in proud parenting moments and cooler still? She's been hailed a community leader at the age of 7. What an incredible boost to a previously shattered esteem. This is the same kid who at the age of 5 used to school her SK teachers about all the reasons Toronto needed to "Evict Rob Ford". Hell, even she knew better than most adults at the time. She seems to have developed some anxiety around being front and centre (*fingers crossed* for a complete recovery on this one!), but there used to be a time where she'd engage people about all the reasons she'd be a better mayor. Side note: My teen sent a flurry of texts at 9pm when she got off work, to ask how the campaign launch went, sad that she missed it and keen to talk about how she could get involved over the summer months. Love these kids. And finally, did you know that the City of Toronto has a Contribution Rebate Program allowing contributors to claim a rebate from the City for contributions made to mayor and councillor candidates in an election? Have a read!

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Xx

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Gender Fluidity

Self expression +  self exploration + self acceptance + self esteem + self appreciation +self love + self sufficient + self reflection= adventures in self.

GENDER BINARY Self doubt + hesitancy + uncertainty + indecision + insecurity+ anxiety + self hate+ self destruction= misadventures in self . Food for thought. 

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Matcha Green Tea Bliss

   Not sure if I've mentioned, but my teenager (who is quite happy to remain anonymous) has also been homeschooled in the past, but is currently attending an Alternative School. I say that, but it's not really that simple. Her learning is self directed which happens to mean that she very rarely attends school, but checks in periodically, attends a mtg occasionally and is busy skill building /extremely active in our community in a number of different capacities. One of her greatest loves at the moment is Matcha anything and she rarely has time to do anything nice for herself, so, whilst out at Pacific Mall this past week, I went on the hunt. Turns out, I was right when I told her to be patient, that it would eventually start pouring into the country and there really wasn't any great need to move to Japan... We've had the kit kat's and pocky's for a while now, but there is quite a lot more available now that doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg (like one might pay for a matcha chocolate bar at David's Tea).  Hopefully though, they start playing with the recipes a bit, add a little sweetness, some vanilla bean etc, in order to keep up with the latest interest and demand!  Unsweetened green tea ice cream in a crepe is not top on my list of suggestions.

For now, I'd say you ought to stick to the Kit Kat or Pocky's...maybe a smoothie from booster juice, an unsweetened latte or frappe with soy, no whip from Starbucks or an iced matcha green tea from David's Tea!

(They have a frequent steeper card!) Kit Kat has gone a bit overboard over the years. I kick myself every day for not taking a picture when I had the chance, but I've seen a cheddar cheese flavoured bar in a local T&T Supermarket and now, they have apple flavoured!

*Side note: The teen is casually entertaining the idea of skipping country for an international exchange opportunity in a couple of years. I have this gut feeling (and have for a while now) that she will find herself working in food security and sustainability, so I *casually* mentioned the organic farms in Japan as an option.  *fingers crossed*  Will keep you posted! Xx