I grew up in a household with four surnames. My mum had her maiden name, my stepdad his name, my brother his dad’s name, and I had my mum and my dad’s names. From a young age this meant I knew that not all families share a name, and that this has no effect on how loved we necessarily feel or how connected to each other we are. But growing up in a household with four surnames also meant that I witnessed just how much multi-name households can unsettle people observing our family from the outside.
Bringing up the topic of surnames in 2021 can still produce quite visceral reactions. Anyone who’s discussed the subject with friends and family knows this. So why does it continue to surprise me that many adults become uncomfortable when presented with even the slightest hint of a disruption or challenge to heteronormative behaviours in relation to surnames in marriage, and, especially, when it comes to children.
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Tingle show benefits WHAT
Comedian Jimmy Tingle offers a “Humor for Humanity” fundraiser that in part benefits Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater with virtual showings of his recorded “2020 Vision: Why Would a Comedian Run For Office” show. The screenings will be followed by a Q&A and Tingle’s comedy performance.
When: 7 p.m. through Saturday, 4 p.m. Sunday (sales end 75 minutes before showtime; Zoom link sent one hour prior to show)
Where: Via Zoom link sent to ticket-holders
Tickets: $20 or pay what you can
Information: what.org
‘Flying Santa’ story told in exhibit
The Massachusetts Air and Space Museum is showing an exhibit on “Flying Santa,” outlining the history of the original Flying Santa who delivered packages on Christmas Day to the lighthouse keepers and their families along the New England coast. Now a more than 90-year-old non-profit organization delivers gifts to the families of active duty Coast Guardsmen.
Our Favorite Parenting Books of 2020
Greater Good’s editors pick their favorite books to help parents and their kids thrive. By
Maryam Abdullah,
Jill Suttie,
Diana Divecha | December 22, 2020
For a lot of families, parenting has never been harder than it was this year. Many have been struggling for months trying to provide child care and schooling at home while simultaneously working either alongside their children or as essential workers in the community,
if they haven’t already lost their jobs.
The theme that emerges across our favorite parenting books of the year is how important connection and communication are. Whether it’s sensory communication between parents and babies during cosleeping, conversations parents have with their young sons entering puberty, or talking about scary news, one major key to children’s social and emotional well-being is warm, open parent-child communication.