Rage Against The Minivan

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What I want you to know about surviving sexual abuse

October 9, 2013

What I Want You to Know is a series of reader submissions. It is an attempt to allow people to tell their personal stories, in the hopes of bringing greater compassion to the unique issues each of us face. If you would like to submit a story to this series, click here. Today’s guest posts is by an anonymous reader. I am currently 25 years old and for the first time in my life am starting to deal with the sexual abuse that happened to me as a child. I was in 6th and 7th grades and was . . .

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An open letter to “in ear” earbuds

October 8, 2013

  Dear earbuds, You've changed. It's been a small change, and it's not one that many people are willing to talk about. But I'm going to go there today.  It's not me, it's you. It used to be that you nestled nicely into my ear. You were mostly external. You sat in my ear comfortably . . . just the right fit. You weren’t flashy or obtrusive, but we had a good partnership. You served me well. But lately you've gotten a little to forward.  Your new body . . .

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Pinterest is full of crap

October 7, 2013

I recently had a bout of guilt about not being a crafty mom, so I did what any logical mother would do and I took them to an expensive pottery-painting place. If you thought I was going to say that I went to Michael's and bought craft supplies, well . . . I'm sorry to disappoint. That store gives me hives. I'm quite content outsourcing any and all crafts to avoid that place. At least I was content until I saw the bill. These tiny little pieces of pottery, along with the required sitting fee . . .

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Halloweentime at Disneyland

October 7, 2013

My kids got the chance to visit Disneyland this past weekend, to experience their yearly Halloween Time celebration. This is one of my favorite times of the year at Disneyland. It feels like the first big foray into fall and the holiday season, and I love the way Disney does Halloween in a way that it scary but not TOO scary. The kids got to meet several villains, which is a fun departure from the usual sweet princess meet-ups. The woman playing the wicked stepmother was so funny and . . .

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What I want you to know about birthmothers

October 5, 2013

What I Want You to Know is a series of reader submissions. It is an attempt to allow people to tell their personal stories, in the hopes of bringing greater compassion to the unique issues each of us face. If you would like to submit a story to this series, click here. Today’s guest posts is by an anonymous reader. My younger sister just graduated high school this May. She’s smart, funny, beautiful, and kind. Oh yeah, and she’s pregnant. In a couple of weeks, she will give birth to . . .

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That’s what SHE said: raising mean girls, killing the love of reading, closing the empathy gap, and more . . .

October 5, 2013

The Reading Log: The Quickest, Most Effective Method Of Killing A Love Of Reading | Hometown Homework Chronicles Here’s what reading logs actually do: they turn reading into a chore. They teach kids that time spent matters more than content or understanding of content. Reading logs tell kids that they are untrustworthy and must continually prove themselves. They send the message that kids cannot be independent learners – they must rely on Mom and Dad to back them up Why You Are Teaching . . .

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Questions of eternal significance: do you use a washcloth?

October 4, 2013

Last week my friend Catherine linked to a Gawker article on washcloths, and the conversation that ensued was hilarious. WHO KNEW that people hold such varied and passionate opinions on washcloths?? Apparently, according to Gawker, there is even a racial component: black people are more likely to use washcloths than white people. [source] Well, folks, I’m not the least bit embarrassed to say that I am decidedly pro-washcloth in the shower. In fact, I don’t even feel really clean if I haven’t . . .

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Decorating with starburst mirrors

October 3, 2013

Last week I talked about my obsessive search for the perfect wall map for our home, but nothing triggered my shopping OCD quite like searching for the perfect (and affordable) starburst mirror. I knew I wanted to use a starburst mirror (sunburst mirror? WHICH ONE IS IT I DON’T KNOW) in our new living room. We have a weird horizontal window above the sofa and I wanted to anchor it with two big pieces. I love that sunburst/starburst mirrors have a retro vibe, and so I set off to find two of . . .

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What I want you to know about being the bullied kid

October 2, 2013

What I Want You to Know is a series of reader submissions. It is an attempt to allow people to tell their personal stories, in the hopes of bringing greater compassion to the unique issues each of us face. If you would like to submit a story to this series, click here. Today’s guest posts is by Alexandra. Okay, first things first. If any kid was "asking" to be bullied, it was me. At age twelve, I was big-nosed, small-breasted, and daydreamy, with no knowledge of contemporary fashion . . .

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An open letter to my professor about China’s one-child policy (GUEST POST)

October 1, 2013

This post was written by Jenni "Fang" Lee, an adoptee from China, who generously allowed me to republish here. You can watch Jenni's TEDx talk about her story here. She is also one of the subjects in the incredible documentary Somewhere Between. This letter was written in response to a professor's insensitivity about girls in China. Dear Professor: First of all, please do not talk to us like we are children. Second of all, please do not tell an entire class while laughing and cracking jokes . . .

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Hi, I’m Kristen. I’m a mom of four kids via birth and adoption and a writer living in Southern California. Read More.

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Rage Against the Minivan sometimes earns revenue through sponsored posts, which are clearly labeled, and occasional affiliate links to recommended products. I only feature products that I truly like, and my opinions are always my own.

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