Speaking to the Anxieties of Children
Many adults—teachers, parents—are overwhelmed, angry, and fearful with what is happening in the world. The wars, the environment, the political rancor, the outright cruelty being
December 4, 2025
Rob's Blog
How Bad Is It, Doc?
When I was a kid, I loved cowboy movies. In a frequent motif, the handsome sheriff, wounded in a duel with a nasty desperado, whom
September 19, 2025
Equivalencies
We like balance, fairness in everything we do. A square deal. Our financial lives are based on the notion of equivalency—getting what we pay for.
August 24, 2025
Eighteen Ways to Consider John Brown
Author’s note: I wrote this piece when I was painting John Brown’s portrait back in 2012. It was my attempt to sort out the complex
August 15, 2025
On Being Woke
The justification for erasing America’s historic injustices, claiming that knowing them causes kids to feel guilt or shame, is a high priority for our current
August 12, 2025
The Gravity of Narcissism
“. . . an act of cruelty . . . was the ancient irresistible rejoicing of power over weakness.” – Tony Hoagland “You cannot follow
August 4, 2025
Ask the Right Question
I intended to write about immigrants. About our government’s demonization of immigrants. About the reasons people flee their homes, abandon their extended families and communities, take enormous risks and
July 13, 2025
Rain at 4 am (then War)
Some people use a recording of rain’s soothing white noise to put themselves to sleep. I like to be woken up by the real thing. My
July 1, 2025
Standing in Black
Yesterday afternoon, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., 17 men and women dressed all in black, stood in a line on the street in the little
June 12, 2025