Coparenting: When Back to School Means Back to Conflict

The problem with negotiating a “one-size fits all” parenting agreement is that it’s impossible to anticipate what types of changes the children are going to experience as they get older.  The after summer transition to a new grade can be particularly trying as both parents try to adapt to new teachers, more homework, different lunches, different extra-curricular activities and new friends.

I’m managing thus far – but sometimes it seems like pulling off these transitions is a feat that’s just too much.  It seems my ex views the new school year as an opportunity for a new power struggle over one thing or another.

Ignorance is not Bliss: How Do You Teach Someone Who Cannot Learn?

I've said before that my eldest son, Puck, has a learning disability.  And my headline might be a little misleading in this regard.  My son can learn.  And given the right environment, with some accomodation, he actually learns very well.

The person who doesn't learn is his father.  He hasn't learned that negative feedback to a child with learning disabilities just lowers their confidence.  He hasn't learned that he is fairly consistently the source of negative feedback to my son.  

The Purple Crayon - Encouraging Creativity in your Children

I've always been a fairly creative person.  It's part of the reason I enjoy writing so much.  But, as an adult, I do realize that there are some creative enterprises that you just can't undertake.  For instance, although I've added a few trinkets to my desk at work, I'm well aware that if I put up Christmas lights and streamers in my office, I'd likely be asked to take them down eventually.  Because the workplace is just one of those places where creativity, and standing out, is discouraged.

Unfortunately, I was reminded the other day that certain institutions work hard to teach you how to stifle your creativity.  I had a parent-teacher interview with Flower's teacher.  Now this is not my favourite time of year.  With Puck, this usually was an excuse for the teachers to highlight his shortcomings.  Given his recently diagnosed learning disability, this doesn't happen very much any more - we talk more about accommodations and learning plans.  But given my past experiences, it's still something I dread.  What if there's an issue?  Am I a bad parent?