Comments on: Parenting in Texas and New York http://www.geezersisters.com/family/parenting-in-texas-and-new-york Austin, Texas novelist Ruth Pennebaker, who's old enough to call herself "fabulous," writes about family, politics, marriage, friendship, feminism, aging and whatever else occurs to her. Her latest novel, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakthrough, was published by Berkley in January 2011. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:24:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Winston http://www.geezersisters.com/family/parenting-in-texas-and-new-york/comment-page-1#comment-5164 Winston Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:56:20 +0000 http://www.geezersisters.com/?p=1929#comment-5164 I've always wanted to visit NYC and spend a week meandering through the wonderful museums.  But as of this writing, I can still get sweaty cold palms just contemplating arrival at any NYC airport.  The only pleasant thought I have of NYC is recalling the sound of Shelley Winters saying the words, "New York," during appearances on <em>The Tonight Show</em>. I’ve always wanted to visit NYC and spend a week meandering through the wonderful museums.  But as of this writing, I can still get sweaty cold palms just contemplating arrival at any NYC airport.  The only pleasant thought I have of NYC is recalling the sound of Shelley Winters saying the words, “New York,” during appearances on The Tonight Show.

]]> By: Anne Gibert http://www.geezersisters.com/family/parenting-in-texas-and-new-york/comment-page-1#comment-5104 Anne Gibert Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:07:52 +0000 http://www.geezersisters.com/?p=1929#comment-5104 Mine are still telling me about things they did then that I didn't know about.  Perhaps that's why my hair is getting curly.  No matter how hard you try, they risk their lives.  It's better not to know too much. Mine are still telling me about things they did then that I didn’t know about.  Perhaps that’s why my hair is getting curly.  No matter how hard you try, they risk their lives.  It’s better not to know too much.

]]> By: Steve http://www.geezersisters.com/family/parenting-in-texas-and-new-york/comment-page-1#comment-5099 Steve Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:39:19 +0000 http://www.geezersisters.com/?p=1929#comment-5099 The apple falls not far from the tree. I once observed my 15 year old son furiously typing at the computer.  When asked, he explained he was writing a complaint to the band director.  I offered to edit it, which he refused, and encouraged him to experience the catharsis of a letter written but not sent.  Again, he refused, but explained it would be okay because it would be sent anonymously.  I challenged that:  "You either have the courage of your convictions or you do not. " The next day I received a phone call from the band director requesting a parent conference concerning my son's letter complaining of the director's "big dog attitude," along with other choice descriptions.  Control?  Keep them safe?  Not going to happen.  You do your best, and then enjoy the ride. The apple falls not far from the tree.

I once observed my 15 year old son furiously typing at the computer.  When asked, he explained he was writing a complaint to the band director.  I offered to edit it, which he refused, and encouraged him to experience the catharsis of a letter written but not sent.  Again, he refused, but explained it would be okay because it would be sent anonymously.  I challenged that:  “You either have the courage of your convictions or you do not. ”

The next day I received a phone call from the band director requesting a parent conference concerning my son’s letter complaining of the director’s “big dog attitude,” along with other choice descriptions. 

Control?  Keep them safe?  Not going to happen.  You do your best, and then enjoy the ride.

]]> By: Sophia http://www.geezersisters.com/family/parenting-in-texas-and-new-york/comment-page-1#comment-5096 Sophia Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:50:15 +0000 http://www.geezersisters.com/?p=1929#comment-5096 I grew up in NYC in the 1970s and I--and all my friends from that time--miss that dark, scary, depressed city desperately. It was wonderful. Today's cleaned up, yupped up, jacked-up city kinda depresses me. I was about 11 or 12 years old when I rode the subway alone for the first time, to 34th St. to visit my mother at her office. I still remember exactly how she explained when I should get off. "You'll stop at 42nd street, where a lot of people will get off and a lot of people will get on. It's the next stop." I grew up in NYC in the 1970s and I–and all my friends from that time–miss that dark, scary, depressed city desperately. It was wonderful. Today’s cleaned up, yupped up, jacked-up city kinda depresses me.
I was about 11 or 12 years old when I rode the subway alone for the first time, to 34th St. to visit my mother at her office. I still remember exactly how she explained when I should get off. “You’ll stop at 42nd street, where a lot of people will get off and a lot of people will get on. It’s the next stop.”

]]>