Born After 1088?

Posted on February 20, 2011 by joana galarza johnson

Next to buying a new bookshelf, tackling a messy topic with white gloves is the joy of  historians. Medieval prostitution in France? Been there. Hitler’s willing executioners?  Done that.  No.  Not been or done.  Read.  Still, some characters of long ago haunt my dreams at night. I once sat in on John Taylor Gatto’s talk, Is College Necessary? The gist: [...]

Filed under: advice and expectations, Choices, Expectations, Philosophers | Tagged: , , , | 1 Comment »

To Yell or Not to Yell. That is my Question.

Posted on February 9, 2011 by joana galarza johnson

For five days I’m writing about the most interesting methods people have used throughout history to raise brilliant children of all types. Yesterday I wrote Poor Baby?  Nope.  Strong Baby. Sirena Huang started violin lessons at age 4 and made her professional solo debut at 9 with the Taiwan Symphony Orchestra.  I watched her play on [...]

Filed under: Childhood, Creative Families, Expectations, Music, Passion, The Child | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments »

Poor Baby? Nope–Strong, Baby.

Posted on February 3, 2011 by joana galarza johnson

For five days I’m writing about the most interesting methods people have used throughout history to raise brilliant children of all types. Yesterday I wrote No Mother–No Whips. Amy Chua, the author of  The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother thinks Americans worry too much about emotions–especially kid’s emotions.  We throw in the towel the [...]

Filed under: advice and expectations, Expectations, Feelings, Parents | Tagged: , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

Baby, Who Cares If It’s Cold Outside!

Posted on January 28, 2011 by joana galarza johnson

I’m only a quarter-through Amy Chua’s new book Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, but I can barely help myself from commenting. So, here goes: Chua tells the story of how she raised her daughters, the Chinese- mother way– with grueling hard work by both mother and child, belittlement of children as a valid disciplinary tool [...]

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Directing Ones Thoughts: The One Human Freedom

Posted on September 29, 2010 by joana galarza johnson

I get up every morning determined both to change the world and to have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning the day difficult. -E.B. White, American author In 1964, psychologist Martin Seligman coined the term learned helplessness to describe a loss of will he observed in lab dogs. The dogs were [...]

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Focusing on Other’s Expectations Inhibits Creative Development

Posted on September 11, 2010 by joana galarza johnson

Any healthy two-year-old knows when, how and by whom her driving passion to explore the world is blocked.  This morning, my two year old looked me straight in the eye and said, Now go away.  She knew I would curb her next experiment. Earlier she cuddled beside me smiling, her cool bare toes wiggling against [...]

Filed under: Childhood, Expectations, Following Rules | Tagged: , , , , , | 1 Comment »