(Originally published in Bay Windows, June 17, 2009.) Disney Pixar’s new animated feature, Up, is a good movie, better than most children’s fare. My kindergartener and I both enjoyed it—but it left me with a few lingering qualms about its depiction of parenting and gender roles. The story revolves around 78-year-old Carl Fredricksen, who is […]
This isn’t parenting-specific, but my son is going through a superhero phase right now, so there’s a connection in my head: Rights are only useful if people know you have them. That’s been one of my complaints about the plethora of terms for “two people in a mutually committed, legally recognized relationship.” The GLBT Community
Children’s musicians Erin Lee and Marci bring us the next of their regular posts with thematic recommendations for kid-friendly music, plus activities to make the songs an interactive experience for the whole family. Look for Erin Lee and Marci here on the first Monday of each month, or visit their homepage, www.gottaplay.org. I’ve created links
Helen and I discuss two new children’s books (one about moms and one about dads) by Lesléa Newman, author of Heather Has Two Mommies. We then reveal yet another hidden lesbian on children’s television, Lily Tomlin (bonus points if you can guess which show without looking it up), and ask whether we’ll see any actual
(Originally published in Bay Windows, May 28, 2009.) We’ve been on a Disney movie kick around our house, spurred by a recent visit to the Magic Kingdom. As fate would have it, the day the Prop 8 decision was announced, we had chosen to watch Mary Poppins. I was looking forward to some Julie Andrews,
My son is starting to read more on his own now, so I was delighted to find the lighthearted early reader There Is a Bird On Your Head! by Mo Willems, of Knuffle Bunny and Pigeon fame. The simple plot is that elephant Gerald has a bird on his head, and must rely on his
I’ve been excited about the upcoming Showtime series Nurse Jackie ever since it began airing trailers during L Word season. Star Edie Falco is a terrific actress, and the series promised to take a look at hospital life from the often unseen perspective of the nurses. Little did I know, however, that the series would
Children’s musicians Erin Lee and Marci bring us the next of their regular posts with thematic recommendations for kid-friendly music, plus activities to make the songs an interactive experience for the whole family. This month, they take a slightly different tack with recommendations for some spoken-word tracks from favorite children’s artists. Look for Erin Lee
Helen and I share viewer feedback on how Icelandic same-sex couples name their kids, and how to survive a trip to Disney World (including where to find hard-to-get Kim Possible merchandise). We also bring you updates on several celebrity lesbian moms with new babies, new wives, and new high-profile careers. Mombian: She Got me Pregnant,
“Guess what?” “Chicken Butt!” The classic schoolyard gag has found new life in Chicken Butt!, a picture book by critically acclaimed children’s author Erica Perl. There is nothing LGBT-specific about the story, but Perl’s illustrator is Henry Cole, the prolific artist who also did the drawings for Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson’s And Tango Makes
