DADS QUOTE: Edward Abbey’s “Desert Solitaire”

-

Edward Abbey, “Desert Solitaire”, Preface #newyearsevefeels

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

DADS READ: "Who Has What" by author Robie H. Harris and illustrator Nadine Bernard Westcott

-
Image
Being a parent involves setting societal and cultural norms for your children.  When and where is it appropriate to eat, when and where is it appropriate to use electronic devices, when and where is it appropriate to sleep, when and where is it appropriate to urinate and defecate, etc.  That last one has an instructive, humorous story. One of my nephews had been on a long road trip to California, and something many people can relate to on long road trips, this nephew needed to urinate, but there wasn't an exit, a gas station, or any bathroom for miles in either direction.  His parents tried to explain to this nephew that in this circumstance, it was okay to urinate outdoors, on the side of the road, because there isn't any other alternative.  Great, no problem, many people have experienced needing to urinate outdoors when camping, traveling, or otherwise in a pinch.  Fast forward to after their road trip is over, they jad made it to Carlsbad, California, and...
Read more

DADS READ: “Hilda Series: Hilda and the Troll; Hilda and the Midnight Giant; and Hilda and the Bird Parade” by Luke Pearson

-
Image
JER: “ Hilda Series : Hilda and the Troll; Hilda and the Midnight Giant; and Hilda and the Bird Parade” by Luke Pearson plays with Nordic fantasy and the unexpected.  Is that a tree or “The Wood Man” who is “aware of too much in my own house to ever truly be comfortable in it” so he spends lots of time in Hilda’s house.  Is that a rock or a Troll?  Is that a mountain or a Giant who has been waiting for her friend?  Most importantly, I love these three books (and look forward to getting the rest in the series) since they model adventure (without focusing on the fact that Hilda is a girl), they model empathy (you never know if that common looking crow could be a THUNDERBIRD), and they model navigating real life situations: making mistakes, moving to new places, relying on the kindness of others, learning who are your real friends, etcetera.  Many thanks to my friend @mshenriksen for introducing to this series.
Read more

JER: “Plain Jane and the Mermaid” by Vera Brosgol

-
Image
  JER: “Plain Jane and the Mermaid” by Vera Brosgol was a bit uncomfortable to read.  Jane is quickly confronted with the possibility of being homeless after her parents die and a cousin is set to inherit her home in a week.  Jane has a low estimation of her worth, having been convinced that she is, indeed, “plain,” fat, and ugly.  I was uncomfortable with the emphasis on looks, size, and desirability.  I suspected that the story would eventually confront these stereotypes and social constructs, but I was uncomfortable with discussing size and appearance for fear that the discussion itself would reinforce the beauty and size-ist standards I was trying to avoid or overcome with my children.  However, my wife correctly surmised that although it is easier to ignore these topics and pretend they don’t exist, size and beauty standards nevertheless exist because societies inevitably and perpetually create them.  Unfortunately, as a parent, you can’t simply i...
Read more