He’s Big in Japan

A while back, we ‘wagoneers considered the question “Should you put your kids’ photos on the Internet?” We looked at a range of possible consequences, from stalkers to simple shame, but there was one result we failed to take into account—that your kid’s photo could become a Japanese Internet meme. That’s what happened to Stephen, …

The Tantrum: Is Yelling in Front of Kids Okay? Part 2

Once upon a time, when I was maybe 11 years old, my parents had a fight. I don’t remember what it was about, but I do remember voices raised and my mother eventually storming out of the house, yelling something about wanting a divorce.* It was evening, after dinner, and the scene was terrifying to …

Nursemaid’s Elbow and Other Antique Ailments

When you spend much of your life halfway across the world from your family, there are certain things you don’t want to hear when, once a day, you check in by phone. Such as: “I took Sasha to the emergency room today.” So it went last week. Jean and Sasha had apparently been playing one …

Lolly’s, Lolly’s, Lolly’s: Get Your Adverbs Here

Okay, no adverbs for sale, actually, but today I snapped this photo of a lonely, photogenic lollipop waiting for the F train at Bergen Street. And it made me wonder: Are those lollipops—the kind you see in movies and TV—really real? Was this a stunt pop? How did it get there? Who even thought they …