Author: Phoebe Gleeson

The dark is rising

Posted on by Phoebe Gleeson

When the Dark comes rising, six shall turn it back

Three from the circle, three from the track

Wood, bronze, iron; water, fire, stone

Five will return and one go alone

I am rereading one of my very favorite books, this time to Gilbert, Trixie and Gloria. The first book, Over Sea, Under Stone, is better for the summer, while The Dark Is Rising is set from Midwinter Eve to Twelfth Night, so perfect for Christmas.

darkrisingbox

These are splendid books, Arthurian in ancestry but set in late 20th century England and Wales. My introduction to them was in fifth grade, which is just about perfect, as the protagonists are about 8 to about 12. I had never read anything quite like them, though they have a feel of Narnia or A Wrinkle In Time. Not much like Harry Potter, which, for all its delightful qualities still feels very much like it is written for children. These books don’t  feel that way at all.

Highly recommended.

The Troubling Erasure of Trans Parents Who Breastfeed

Posted on by Phoebe Gleeson

Despite acknowledgment by many in birthing communities that pregnancy is not limited to women, the language used by most people still hasn’t changed. Jasper Moon, a genderqueer parent who prefers to be called “ren” by their child (short for “parent”), notes that when they hear the term “nursing mother,” they know “that obviously doesn’t apply to me.”

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/8673664

I am nonplussed. Note: the pronoun “they” in the above except refers to Jasper Moon. Just to clear that up.

December 17, 2015 at 10:23AM

Posted on by Phoebe Gleeson


Cold morning, happy kid. It was 25° when we woke up, and about 32° here. Our grassy areas were brushhogged yesterday, and the waist high to me, head-high to Dorothy grass is much less intimidating. And the cold means no ticks!
We have been considering selling the house and moving back to the city. Days like today make me think we shouldn’t.
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Posted on by Phoebe Gleeson

“When it comes to a fair fight the barbarians are … well … barbarians. Incapable of virtue, they insist hypocritically on etiquette — and the powers that be are so vigilant about keeping up the appearance of civility that they may even suspend you or charge you with harassment should you have the temerity to call them on their hypocrisy and refuse to play nice. Not having to be nice when others are acting shamelessly is what academic freedom was meant to protect.”

https://lareviewofbooks.org/essay/dear-parents-everything-you-need-to-know-about-your-son-and-daughters-university-but-dont

Star wars eeeeee!

Posted on by Phoebe Gleeson

I’m so very excited about Star Wars. We won’t see it until Saturday because Sean made a sad little whimper noise, not unlike a certain blue and white droid, when I said maybe the kids and I would see it without him and then go again on the weekend. In the meantime enjoy this spoiler-free review:

“There are very few films which leave me facially exhausted after grinning for 135 minutes, but this is one.“

park day

Posted on by Phoebe Gleeson

We went to the park today, in the unseasonably temperate weather. The kids were so happy to go. We don’t get to the park that often because it is difficult for me to watch a baby and an autistic boy, but today Faith and Abby watched Dorothy and Clementine and I kept an eye on Bede. I was able to chat with some of the other homeschoolers, wow!

Bede played tag with the other boys, after a fashion. One of the boys in particular was very sweet and tried to include him, without knowing anything about him at all. Really great kid!

I am almost done with Christmas purchases. Keeping it to four gifts per kid and a few things for everyone makes it both easier and harder. My kids have a hard time coming up with things they want, though. I think that is a lack of exposure to commercial television and institutional school at work there. I think this is the fourth year we have done this gift plan, and I love it. Something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read. Really hones the mind to come up with the categorical gifts. I tried to get my mother on board but she just can’t do it. That’s OK. She’s a grandma, and the only one they have. She doesn’t go overboard.

It’s just there is so much STUFF when you have this many people. Even four gifts each and four for everyone and a simple gift from me to Sean and vice-versa… means 38 presents.

December 10, 2015 at 07:00PM

Posted on by Phoebe Gleeson


Gloria learned to read this year. She was anxious about it for a long time, and it blocked her progress. But then, it became easier and easier, and she was reading. This is the first time that I have seen her reading a so called chapter book by choice. She has read lots of comics, Calvin and Hobbes, picture books. She has been read to for countless hours by her father at bedtime. She has read video game instructions. She grudgingly read the first book in this series though it took her a week, then the second book in a day, still, only because I asked her to. But this is the dawn of the novel for her. A momentous day! What amazing things she has to look forward to. I’m kinda jealous. #magictreehouse #mummiesinthemorning #unschooling
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