Can we take the best of the holiday experiences we've had and create something peaceable and joyous? I've had good motivators to start my own thinking about food, about gifts, and about celebrations. Maybe if I'm lucky you'll share with me some of the things that work at your house.

Three things I've read recently have added to my life. Read more

In the midst of all the chatter about spreading democracy, some are taking notice that world literacy is still a long way off, and trying new experiments. One notable example is John Wood, author of the new book Leaving Microsoft to Change the World.

He was recently interviewed by New York Times reporter Deborah Solomon. Read more

Special education families still try harder. StudyBuddy often helps parents who have just realized a child has learning differences, or is hearing-impaired, or processes visual information in a special way. Public education attempts to respond to special needs; but the burden of advocacy rests on the parents. Read more

Unless we're challenged on it, we believe gifts are simply blessings. We hope gifted kids have an easy time at school. Yet it turns out the only people who think that are the ones who haven't had to wonder whether a particular child had unusual gifts or tried to find appropriate resources.

Where the child lives can make a difference. Read more

(A recent issue of Encarta's newsletter offered these suggestions)

The Polar Express

This is the story of a boy's magical Christmas Eve train ride to the North Pole, where he receives a special gift from Santa Claus.

Hanukkah!

This tells of a Jewish family's holiday celebration in the 1950's. Read more