What would it mean to put children first?

Bruce Lesley, of @First_Focus and @Campaign4Kids, explores that here. The proposed repeal of Obamacare (to be replaced, so far, by….uh…do you hear crickets? How did crickets get on this blog?) could have devastating effects on children and young people, according to this Georgetown University study. Couple that with information from this Economic Policy Institute study which looks at the …

I want to tell you about my Uncle Jerry

I wrote this for Mother Courant.

Whither the healing?

I’m with Bernie Sanders: Funny thing is, the night after the election, a Trump-supporting brother called. He acknowledged that his candidate was flawed, but that he voted for him because business (he’s a businessman in New Mexico). Do you go ahead and argue this one? The election is over, after all, though some people are …

Your grandparents don’t want you to vote for Trump

This? Is heartbreaking.

The New York Times had a story this morning about the children of Aleppo, Syria. To say it’s hard to read is an understatement, but if felt important to share here.

Is this any way to treat a kid?

Every state has what amounts to debtors’ prisons for children, according to a report from the Juvenile Law Center. From Youth First Initiative: One of the most harmful, ineffective and expensive forms of incarceration is the youth prison, the signature feature of nearly every state juvenile justice system. States devote the largest share of their juvenile …

This? Is shameful.

From Truthout: Military service members on active duty spent $24 million in food stamps at military commissary shops from September 2014 to August 2015, and 45 percent of students in schools run by the military are eligible for free or reduced-price meal programs.

Sickened by the shooting of the NY imam and his assistant?

If you didn’t know, Maulama Akonjee, 55, and his assistant, Thara Uddin, 64, were shot on Saturday afternoon near their Queens mosque, Al-Furqan Jame Masjid. It was broad daylight. The men were shot in the back of their heads. While New York police are searching for a suspect, we who wish to see an end to violence (and …

Two cars, 11 people, 2,925 miles. And we’re still talking.

When my son suggested we all take a road trip out to Iowa to attend my niece’s wedding, I thought he was crazy. He has seven kids. I like my quiet. Not everyone likes long car rides and I don’t like to be in close quarters with people who don’t. But flying all of us …

And — just like that — he’s 32

This little sandy-haired guy — father of seven, recent law school graduate, hard-headed son of a…oh, wait. Never mind that last part — is turning 32 today. He was a much-loved and much-wanted baby who taught me everything I needed to know about unconditional love. This photo was taken on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, at his …