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By Sally Torbey
About this blog: About this blog: I have enjoyed parenting five children in Palo Alto for the past two decades and have opinions about everything to do with parenting kids (and dogs). The goal of my blog is to share the good times and discuss the ...
(More)About this blog: About this blog: I have enjoyed parenting five children in Palo Alto for the past two decades and have opinions about everything to do with parenting kids (and dogs). The goal of my blog is to share the good times and discuss the challenges of having a satisfying family life in a community where parents set a high bar for themselves, their children, and the schools and organizations that educate and socialize them. I grew up in the Midwest, attended a small liberal arts college on the East Coast and graduated from medical school in Chicago. I left a pediatric residency to care for our then infant son and spent the next dozen years contentedly gestating and lactating while having four more children. My husband grew up in the Middle East, came to the US for graduate school and works in high tech. Our eldest son graduated from a UC, and after working in the Middle East for a few years, now attends law school in NYC. Our eldest daughter graduated from a Midwestern Big Ten University and is a journalist in Texas. Our middle child studies engineering at a UC. The youngest two girls are in middle and high school in PAUSD. We are celebrating 20 years as PAUSD parents! I volunteer in the public schools, our church, and scouting.
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Parenting with Passion
Uploaded: Oct 8, 2013
My husband and I have been parenting in Palo Alto for over two decades. We have children in the public elementary, middle and high school, as well as a daughter in college and a son who is a recent college graduate. Our empty nester friends are surprised to remember we are still chaperoning field trips, carpooling and watching AYSO soccer. When I am at the elementary school, the other parents mistake me for the grandma because many parents are closer in age to my older offspring than they are to me, and I wear sensible shoes. For the most part, I relish the opportunity to parent a fourth and fifth time, even at my advanced age. There is a lot less anxiety, more appreciation for how fleeting this time is, and we now know for absolutely certain that we will miss them when they leave. Besides, kids are very helpful as technology tutors, although keeping track of what they are doing on their own online is getting more challenging. I only wish they were as innovative and helpful with laundry and dishes!
Being a parent for so long in this community gives me some historical perspective, and with still many years to go, has led me to have strong opinions about anything to do with our public schools or kids. My kids, who often witness my passionate rants, tell me in a slightly condescending tone that blogging will be a good outlet for me.
I hope blogging will be another way to form a parent community for sharing concerns, survival strategies, and funny stories about ourselves and our families. I am indebted to the friends I've made through schools, sports, scouts, church, playgroups and bookclubs. I appreciate all the friends who have listened, laughed, given advice and encouragement, made a meal for my family, driven my kids, and joined me in an early morning dish walk. Parenting can be isolating, but connecting with others and benefitting from their support can make all the difference.
Democracy.
What is it worth to you?
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