Fall Office Hours

New Office Hours This Fall. Starting September 1.

Monday 9am to 7pm
Tuesday 9am to 2:30pm (last session starts at 1:30pm)
Wednesday 2pm to 7pm
Thursday 9am to 2:30pm
Friday 9am to 2:30pm
Thanks Every-Body!

This photo of a clothing store was taken in Oxford, England.

Princess Leia's father

I Love Star Wars.

But hey, why do we not talk about Princess Leia being the leader of the Rebels? A Woman a Leader of a group called the Rebels. Very cool.

And why do we not talk about the fact that Darth Vader is also her father?

This is what we teach boys

Why is this okay as a message for young boys? Is it meant for sports? Will it reinforce the belief that testosterone is responsible for poor behavior? 

Would anyone want their daughters or sons to date someone who wore this shirt? It just rings of the lack of responsibility, the lack of self control, the lack of respect. Date rape.

It's not okay to reinforce these subtle messages.

If you think this children's t-shirt is not related to any of the above actions, then when and where do boys and men learn that they aren't responsible for their behavior? Can't Stop, Won't Stop reinforces lack of accountability.

We could pretend that it is meant as a positive message, that perseverance, go-getter, to-the-death trying with whatever positive activity they are engaged in is what is meant, but this message appears more often in the news related to abuse, rape, sexual assault, and violence. Let's teach boys that they can stop, they CAN stop, they CAN STOP. Let's allow them to show up with their good hearts, their good intentions and stop brainwashing them into macho, sexist behavior.

New Increased Office Hours

I have increased my office hours!

Monday 9am to 8:30pm

Tuesday 9am-2pm and 5:30pm-8:30pm

Thursday 9-2pm

Friday 9-4:00pm
With the option of some late afternoon / evening appointments when there is spill over from earlier in the week.

Some of you might also notice that I finally painted the hallway where I welcome you in! Feel free to create your own messages on the magnet board.

On-line safety

Check out this website to learn how to protect yourself and your teens on-line. Darren Laur is a Police Officer in Victoria who has started this business with his wife and son. They attend different schools around BC and Canada teaching kids and parents how to protect yourself on-line. The information on his website and in his presentation is much more complex (as the web is) than simply changing privacy settings and having an anti-virus on your computer. This guy knows his stuff and whats you to know it too!  Protect your kids from on-line predators, from false identities and have help with navigating social media pitfalls.

Pink and Blue

There is a great website to check out that is geared towards challenging the toy industry to stop gearing toys to boys and girls and to let them JUST BE TOYS. What a concept huh? (Yes, that is sarcasm). It's time we do away with the pink and blue sections at the toy stores and promote loving dolls and functional diggers to all genders. Check out the site:
www.lettoysbetoys.org.uk 

Question the Questions

Ring Ring
“Hello?”
Caller: “Hello, this is - name - and I am calling from - inaudible, sounded like a government survey - and I would like to speak to the male of the household.”
“You would like to speak to the male of the household?”
“Yes.”
“Do you mean the man who has transitioned from male to female or the woman who was born a man who is now a woman?”
“Um, the male of the household.”
“Do you mean the man who was biologically a man or the man who transitioned?”
“The man who is biologically a man who is now a woman.”
“Oh so you want to speak to the woman of the household.”
“If there is no man of the household, then I would like to speak to the woman.”
“Not a man?”
“No, I will record that it was a woman.”
“Ok, so what if you have called a lesbian household? Who do you want to speak with?”
“The mother.”
“What if both lesbians are mothers? Which mother are you referring to?”
“I could just speak with you.”
“That’s okay, you can just give them this feedback. Thanks for calling.”

Goodness, sometimes it is fun to get these annoying dinner-time survey phone calls. Question the Questions, that’s what I say! Be an ally and be the change you want to see in the world! Social justice opportunities present themselves all the time, have a little fun while challenging the status quo! Forget the drop in the ocean, make a splash!