Category: Education
-
I Hate Discrimination But Isn’t It Time To “Cancel” Blatant Stupidity
I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve had to listen to some idiot make sexist comments in front of me when they know my views about feminism. And when I dare to argue back, they backtrack with platitudes such “I was only having a laugh” or “Can’t you take a joke?”
-
The Sad Price George Floyd Has Paid To Expose Police Corruption
The question of whether black lives matter shouldn’t even be on the table right now. The questions we should be asking are how the system broke and how corrupt, exactly, are our police departments. Anyone with half a brain cell understands that the colour of our skin doesn’t determine who we are, in the same…
-
Educate your parents about COVID-19 – They may be stubborn old fools, but they’re stubbo
It’s been pretty appalling to hear the way some people dismiss the value of our elderly at the moment. This is what happens to equal rights in the face of a crisis. And while I understand the theory behind “survival of the fittest”, I’ll be the first to admit that it never crossed my mind…
-
Isn’t It Funny How Our Priorities Change With Age?
The old man opened the vault last week. Last month was the first time he didn’t lose a ton of our money since he became an investor and it triggered un uncharacteristically generous response. Of course, I leapt at the opportunity to spend. Photo from Sophie Elvis on Unsplash.com I’m sure I must have mentioned…
-
It’s Okay To Man-Hug
Photo by Thiago Barletta on Unsplash We caught up with some friends at the weekend and when the husband and the old man did that awkward shuffle as they greeted each other, our male friend launched into the story of how he had tried to hug his elderly father once, who froze and brushed it…
-
21 Pieces Of Advice I’d Give My Teenage Self…
An article in “The Times” last weekend and my coming birthday inspired me to think seriously once again about what I’ve learned during my half-century. I’ve written posts in the past on the topic of the wisdom gained in middle age – mainly in relation to the advice I’d give NC, my daughter, but amazingly…
-
There Is No Better Education In Love, Compassion And Empathy Than Having A Child With Special Needs
A few weeks ago we went to a fundraiser. It was a black tie event to raise money for the family of an old colleague of the old man’s whose son broke his neck and damaged his spinal cord in a freak rugby accident recently. Alex Noble is their son’s name, and if anyone feels…
-
Food Packaging: Has The World Gone Completely Mad?
I am slowly educating myself about my personal impact on the environment. It helps when you have a daughter who works in climate science, and who helpfully reminds you each time you forget your recycled bags at the supermarket about how many turtles you’ve just killed. Photo by Vivianne Lemay on Unsplash I admit that,…
-
You Don’t Have To Fit Into Society’s One-Size-Fits-All Box
As, once again, we compile the memories of twenty-five years together into boxes ahead of our next move, it seems appropriate to have a discussion about them. Boxes. Because I’ve noticed how good society is at putting people into them, as NC reminded me the other day when we were discussing the assumptions people make…
-
What Advice Would You Give Your Daughter As She Transitions Into Womanhood?
When I was growing up, I wish someone had told me to bury the past, to keep my eyes focused firmly on the road ahead, and to embrace the company of women. An out-of-the-blue email from an old girlfriend prompted me to write this post. The first true girlfriend of my adulthood – ie. after…
-
The Secret To Growth Is Curiosity
I heard the word “curiosity” mentioned in two different contexts last week. The first time was at Clementine Ford’s book launch in Sydney, for her new book “Boys Will Be Boys;” and the second was in an article in The Guardian by Celia Dodd here, about retirement. Inevitably, “retirement” is somewhat of a buzzword in my…
-
Should We Share Our Birthing Stories Online? Absolutely!
There has been a backlash recently against new mothers who share their birthing stories online. Some people don’t like this latest version of “oversharing” because they think it traumatizes pregnant women. Although, not as much as the birth… I hasten to quip. I have to admit that I always felt a bit cheated after the births…
Louisa Simmonds 