I would say that I don’t know how we got through that first shaky week of this third pandemic-impacted school year, hugging our kids and checking to make sure their masks were secure before they left each morning, except that I do know: We had no choice. We still don’t. Though we’re grateful to their teachers and glad that our kids are once again learning alongside their peers, the worry persists, an undercurrent to which we’ve been forced to adapt as we settle into routines both familiar and new. | |
Each week brings more pediatric infections, more student quarantines. Each day, I’m conscious of the fact that I’m allowing my children to assume a risk from which I, working at home, am protected, and this feels hopelessly backward. I read every update to the school COVID-19 guidelines so I know what to expect after the inevitable exposure, but I can’t tell my kids what they have long wanted to know: When will things go back to the way they remember? | |
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Over the past 18 months, a common refrain has been that this pandemic should compel all of us to recognize our interdependence, the inescapable fact that we will not address this or any of the other grave threats we’re facing without collective action. This is a lesson that I expect many of our children are also learning, though the cost and the danger to them feels too high. I know I don’t want my kids to conclude that they are or forever will be powerless, or that there is no one who will fight with and for them. There are many things I still have to hope for to get through each day, and while our children’s survival and health top the list, I also want them to retain their faith in themselves and in their ability to look forward to something better than this — to find, as they so often do, their own reasons to hope. | |
— Nicole Chung | |
From: “The View Essay: Parenting – Did I point my kids to the wrong North Star?” Appearing in: Time Magazine; 11/18 Oct 2021 |
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Also online at: https://time.com/6102019/covid-19-hope-for-kids/ | |
The online version appears as: “There’s No End in Sight for COVID-19. What Do We Tell Our Kids Now?“ | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | The Rush Is On |
Another Rerun | |
2020 | It Is Still About Sharing And Cheering |
2019 | Sounds Like #LyingDonald |
2018 | Start Building |
2017 | Woof! Woof! |
2016 | Cast Out |
2015 | Small Pieces |
Happy Father’s Day! | |
2014 | Uncertain Work |
2013 | Unpatriotic And Servile |
2012 | What Price Freedom? |
2011 | Particular Importance |
Three From Bette… | |
Posts Tagged ‘Choice’
Is Normal Just Routine?
Posted in Health, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Choice, COVID-19, Did I Point My Kids To The Wrong North Star?, Faith, Health, Hope, Nicole Chung, Parenting, Philosophy, Quarantines, Quotes, The New Normal, The View Essay, Time Magazine on June 21, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Decisions, Decisions
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Choice, Cruelty, Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach, Philosophy, Quotes, Rudeness, Truth on April 15, 2022| Leave a Comment »
When your absolutely only choice is between an untruth and rudeness, then choose rudeness; if, however, your choice is between an untruth and cruelty, then choose untruth. | |
— Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | In Pursuit |
The Music Of Her Laughter | |
2020 | Close, Sustained And Careful |
2019 | #45: Spread The Fear |
Fear The Beards | |
2018 | Slice, Nick, Cut, Bled |
2017 | Like Most Blogs |
2016 | The Window Left Open |
Free Experience | |
2015 | Reality == Perception / (Times Reported * 10) |
2014 | Tear Da Roof Off Da Sucka |
2013 | Exposed Spirits |
2012 | Ow-ow |
2011 | Focused Relatives |
Choose Possible
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Attitude, Choice, Christopher Reeve, Hope, On What Is Possible, Philosophy, Quotes on January 13, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Once you choose hope, anything is possible. | |
— Christopher Reeve | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Thousands |
Where Did All The Blue Skies Go? | |
2020 | A Profound Source |
2019 | Sad Words |
2018 | Self-Sorted |
2017 | Right |
2016 | At Least One Step |
2015 | Month To Month Rental |
2014 | Professional Beliefs |
2013 | Books Are… |
2012 | True Distinguishing Marks |
2010 | Sub-300 |
MAGA Choice: Reality Or Lies
Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged Choice, Lies, MAGAs, Paradigm Change, Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, Reality, Science, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, Thomas S. Kuhn PhD, Trumpism on September 25, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Like the choice between competing political institutions, that between competing paradigms proves to be a choice between incompatible modes of community life. Because it has that character, the choice is not and cannot be determined merely by the evaluative procedures characteristic of normal science, for these depend in part upon a particular paradigm, and the paradigm is at issue. When paradigms enter, as they must, into a debate about paradigm choice, their role is necessarily circular. Each group uses its own paradigm to argue in that paradigm’s defense. | |
— Thomas S. Kuhn | |
From his book: “The Structure of Scientific Revolutions“ | |
[Unfortunately for Democracy, Trumpers STILL choose lies… — KMAB] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2020 | A Good Reason To Blog |
Finally Enjoying The View | |
2019 | Living Free |
2018 | Relative Imagination |
2017 | Thank You, Senator McCain (So Far Anyway) |
2016 | What About Friends? |
2015 | It Tastes Good To Me |
2014 | Others’ Footsteps |
The Not-So-Modern Samurai | |
2013 | Doin’ |
2012 | A Lover |
2011 | What Have We Found Here |
Words | |
Choose Strength
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Bob Marley, Choice, Philosophy, Quotes, Strength on June 26, 2021| Leave a Comment »
You never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice. | |
— Bob Marley | |
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On This Day In: | |
2020 | No Fear |
2019 | Propaganda vs. Art |
2018 | What Did You Bring Up? |
2017 | Waiting For My First Strike |
2016 | Mostly Just Masticating |
2015 | Don’t Mess With Mosa |
How Long Is This Run? | |
2014 | The Importance Of Being Forgetful |
2013 | Anyway |
2012 | Habit Forming |
2011 | And In The Other Hand(ful) |
In Love With Words | |
Boundless Naïveté | |
Who Did You Say Signed Off On This Treason, Pat? | |
Try To Choose Wisely
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Choice, Experience, Joys, Kahlil Gibran, Philosophy, Quotes, Sorrows on March 18, 2021| Leave a Comment »
We choose our joys and sorrows long before we experience them. | |
— Kahlil Gibran | |
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On This Day In: | |
2020 | We Have A Window |
2019 | No Escape |
2018 | Except When It Is From The Oval Office |
2017 | Bad Karma |
2016 | Poor Management Choices |
2015 | Is It Still Dark Out? |
2014 | Rule One |
2013 | Spelling God’s Name |
2012 | Love Your Life And Sing |
Feeling Under the Weather? | |
2011 | Cheers, Friend! |
Guns Or Butter
Posted in Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged Abraham Flexner, American Politics, Choice, Civilization, Economics, Philosophy, Quotes, War on February 9, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Probably, no nation is rich enough to pay for both war and civilization. We must make our choice; we cannot have both. | |
— Abraham Flexner | |
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On This Day In: | |
2020 | Haunting Illusions |
True Color | |
Crackin’ The Flags | |
2019 | Maybe A Slight Advantage |
We Should Never Give Up On Our Dreams | |
2018 | As I Recall |
2017 | Truly Generous |
2016 | Choose Your Destiny |
2015 | Fast And Firm |
2014 | Neither Head Nor Heart |
2013 | Lonely, Foolish, Love Songs |
Batting 1.000 | |
Coward, n. | |
2012 | At Least A Little More Difficult |
2011 | Speaking Of Fear |
You Too Can Choose
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Attitude, Being Happy, Choice, Groucho Marx, Philosophy, Quotes on March 7, 2019| 5 Comments »
I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn’t arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I’m going to be happy in it. | |
― Groucho Marx | |
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On This Day In: | |
2018 | In Line |
2017 | Just Get It Right |
2016 | In Support Of Common Core |
2015 | Oscillation |
2014 | Truth Shift |
2013 | Real Heroes |
2012 | Controlling The Beast |
2011 | 1,002 |
MAGA?
Posted in Humor, Politics, Quotes, tagged Abortion, Birth Control, Catholics, Choice, H. L. Mencken, Humor, Mother, Politics, Quotes, Rhythm, Roe v. Wade, The Pill on June 25, 2018| 1 Comment »
It is now quite lawful for a Catholic woman to avoid pregnancy by a resort to mathematics, though she is still forbidden to resort to physics or chemistry. | |
— H. L. Mencken | |
[Mencken was a satirist and cultural / social commentator who passed away before the invention of the birth control pill and Roe v. Wade. Do we want to go back? | |
I remember growing up and hearing the name used to describe Catholic women who practiced “the rhythm” method of birth control. It was “mother”. — kmab] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2017 | Neutral |
Family Over Ego | |
2016 | Hard Learners |
2015 | Goals |
2014 | Switch To Dogs… |
2013 | Times Change |
2012 | Ashes Not Dust |
2011 | A Handful From Saudi |
None Of This Happened | |
Take Responsibility | |
Choose Goodness
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Choice, Goodness, Max Lucado, Philosophy, Quotes on January 28, 2018| 2 Comments »
I choose goodness… I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse. I choose goodness. | |
— Max Lucado | |
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On This Day In: | |
2017 | Developing Translations |
2016 | Think Like A Hero |
2015 | Reductionism |
2014 | Gravitation, n. |
2013 | Ups And Downs |
2012 | Nerd Heard – And Good-Bye |
Your Continuum | |
2011 | Career Tips (Part 2) |
Eeny Meeny Miny Moe
Posted in Humor, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Choice, Eeny Meeny Miny Moe, Groucho Marx, Happiness, Humor, Misery, Money, Philosophy, Quotes on November 21, 2017| Leave a Comment »
While money can’t buy happiness, it certainly lets you choose your own form of misery. | |
― Groucho Marx | |
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On This Day In: | |
2016 | Feeling Warm Yet? |
Four Documentaries | |
2015 | Just Like All The Others |
2014 | In My Own Vanity |
2013 | Filled With Words |
2012 | Lectio Auget Existentiae Meae |
2011 | Lied Lately? |
2010 | Born To Work At Faux News |
Lost Again (Uh, Make That Still) | |
Qui Genus Humanum Ingenio Superavit | |
They’re Back… (Part 1) | |
Choose
Posted in Quotes, tagged Artists, Choice, Fear, Freedom, Langston Hughes, Quotes on September 10, 2017| Leave a Comment »
An artist must be free to choose what he does, certainly, but he must also never be afraid to do what he might choose. | |
― Langston Hughes | |
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On This Day In: | |
2016 | All I Ever Wanted |
2015 | Compassionate Toward Yourself |
2014 | All And None |
2013 | Voices In The Dark |
2012 | Does Uncommonly Flexible = Flip-Flopping? |
2011 | A Modest Review Of A Modern Day Classic |
Encouragement Is The Path To Immortality | |
Choice
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Choice, Johnny Cash, Love, Philosophy, Quotes on March 21, 2017| Leave a Comment »
All your life, you will be faced with a choice. You can choose love or hate… I choose love. | |
— Johnny Cash | |
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On This Day In: | |
2016 | Growing Worlds |
2015 | Change The Tide |
Martyr, n. | |
2014 | You, Too! |
2013 | Bitter Stand |
2012 | Lost For Words |
2011 | On Market Reactions… |
Proof of Choice…
Posted in Quotes, tagged Choice, John Kenneth Galbraith, Quotes on July 2, 2010| Leave a Comment »
Faced with the choice between changing one’s mind and proving there is no need to do so, most people get busy on the proof. | |
— John Kenneth Galbraith | |
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