What “This is Us” taught me about my parenting and teens
Jack and Rebecca Pearson taught me a valuable lesson about parenting. Thanks to NBC’s “This is Us,” I have learned that no matter what my husband and I do, our children are going to have […]
How to save the square pegs from being pounded out of existence
“The problem with pounding a square peg into a round hole is not that the hammering is hard work. It’s that you’re destroying the peg.” – Paul Collins It looks and feels a lot like […]
My kid is rebelling against religion, and it’s all good.
My kid is rebelling against religion. She’s not alone. According to a 2007 study from Lifeway Research, 70 percent of young Christians will leave the faith during young adulthood, and only 35 percent of them return. We […]
Let’s not talk about the dead deer being dragged through the living room.
Nothing is quite as unsettling as a dead deer being dragged through the living room. The year was 1980-something, and my stepdad was not a particularly good deer hunter. However, for what he lacked in […]
For my children: Be imperfect because you are loved.
I know it’s hard to be a kid today, and I awkwardly discovered I may be part of the problem. Before you get too smug, understand the problem is not the rules you have to […]
The wrong way to protest abortion: Assault tots, teens and churches
And, lo, Not-Jesus found graphic images of the Samaritan woman’s terminated pregnancy and brought them to copy shop so they could be printed out on 5-foot posters. He and Not-Peter then propped them up along […]
A letter to my daughters regarding boys, dating, and sex
First, I have to say that I am not a professional dating/sex/relationship expert. I have, however, had experience with all of the above topics. I also have daughters. One of you recently looked at […]
The tale of the puppy, the Roomba and the Poopocalypse
So, last week, something pretty tragic happened in our household. It’s taken me until now to wrap my head around it and find the words to describe the horror. It started off simple enough – […]
A birthmother gives a beautiful gift after nine months
A guest post by Natalie Thomasmeyer (with Kim Keller) She wakes up with a perfect smile for me, and as it broadens, her eyes glisten with a radiance that takes my breath away. She’s […]
How do you talk to your children about the Middle East conflicts?
My son was asking me questions about the Middle East last night. I did my best to answer him, but how do you explain centuries of conflict and bloodshed to a 10-year-old kid? He has never known […]
How to Avoid Plagiarism: Get Your Own Damn Words
Get your own damn words.* That’s what was probably going through First Lady Michelle Obama’s head as she listened to Melania Trump’s speech Monday evening during the Republican National Convention. Melania, the wife of presumptive […]
I told my son not to be a police officer
I told my little boy not to be a police officer. May God forgive my selfishness. He’s only 12-years-old, but he’s had the heart of a warrior since he was a toddler. He also has the […]
Opt Out mom said NO to high stakes testing, now other parents follow her lead
The Chamness children attend public schools, but they’ve never taken a standardized test. The state of Texas says they’re supposed to do it, but mom Edy Chamness has refused to subject them to 24 hours […]
THIS quiz could save your teen driver
Driver’s Ed classes and the official state handbook don’t teach teen drivers everything they need to know about being behind the wheel. Your teen can still get a valid license without knowing a few important safety practices that […]
23 Quotes About Strength That Will Fortify Your Soul
All of us can all use a little encouragement that rebuilds our strength and fortifies our souls. Here are 23 great quotes that honor perseverance, courage and wisdom: 1) Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than […]
Feeling powerless with today’s politics and culture? Don’t let the loud voices silence you.
Loud opinions are rarely majority opinions. Nonetheless, they are the ones that seem to get the most attention. Is it because those opinions are the best ones? No, loud opinions are just loud. They get attention because they drown […]
When cancer returns; what your friends want you to know about their disease
The cancer has returned. Now the stakes are higher. The “what if” questions have been replaced by doctors saying, “We’re going to try.” Family and friends are confused, but they’ve been down this road before […]
How to choose the best punishment for your child’s B in math
A mom in Frisco, Texas recently took to social media asking for punishment suggestions for her second-grade daughter. The little girl earned a B in math, and Mom “didn’t want to send the message that […]
Who to contact when you need to stand up and speak out about an issue
It’s not what you know, it’s who you know. When it comes to standing up, being heard and making a difference, you need to know the right people. More specifically, you need to know how […]
Want to organize a successful boycott? Avoid these 4 pitfalls.
Skip the boycotts if you want to let a company you’re not happy with their actions; learn why they rarely work as planned and what you can do instead. Boycotts must work. After all, they […]
The RAI Diaries: 12 days of radioactivity and brain flatulence
She began the conversation with, “I have concerns…” Nothing good ever follows that preface; there’s never been a phone call conveying the message “I have concerns your parenting skills are causing your children to become […]
When cancer returns; what your friends want you to know about their disease
The cancer has returned. Now the stakes are higher. The “what if” questions have been replaced by doctors saying, “We’re going to try.” Family and friends are confused, but they’ve been down this road before […]
Empower others to find their voice and backbone in 2016
The best compliment I ever received from a reader was, “Thank you for saying what I’ve been thinking.” My second best compliment was, “Dang, girl. You’ve got cojones.” For the non-Spanglish crowd, that means a […]
How to reduce the fire risk of hoverboards and other rechargeable devices
Hoverboards, this year’s hottest Christmas gift, are proving to be a little too hot for folks to handle. The self-balancing motorized scooters can pose a fire risk due to the lithium-ion batteries that power them. […]
What professors really want you to know about college grades
The culmination of 15 weeks of higher learning is soon to be reflected in the form of a single letter. A, B, C, D or F. As we reach the end of the semester, some […]
How to let people know they matter to you
Knowing that we matter to someone else is a need we all share, and it brings a sense that we are valued, loved, known, included and wanted. However, sometimes it’s hard to let others know […]
If we agree on just 70 percent of core values…
It’s tough to find someone who shares your exact viewpoints on everything. Someone who always does what’s right in your eyes 100 percent of the time. That’s why I‘m happy with just 70 percent. If […]
Teach your children the truth about the terrorism in (insert location here)
They were too young to really understand what September 11 meant to the western world. They have no memories of watching hijacked passenger planes crash into the Twin Towers and Pentagon, nor do they have […]
Teach your children the truth about the terrorist attack in Paris
They were too young to really understand what September 11 meant to the western world. They have no memories of watching hijacked passenger planes crash into the Twin Towers and Pentagon, nor do they have […]
Why Jesse Lee Peterson and half of all evangelicals are WRONG about depression
I appeared on Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson’s radio show a few weeks ago to talk about my recent post, “What your friends with depression want you to know, but are afraid to say,” and instead […]
Why demanding free PR work from bloggers is ethically wrong
Public relations is having a few relationship problems right now. Our relationships with bloggers are taking a hit because some practitioners are unhappy with the fact many of them won’t work pro bono on clients’ publicity/advertising needs. A recent […]
Kim Keller honored by Dallas Morning News
Kim Keller, the writer behind Real People Activism and Roadkill Goldfish, was voted Outstanding Community Voice Columnist of the Year by readers and other columnists of the Dallas Morning News. Here are a few of […]
Charged for 120,000 gallons of water? Resident bills skyrocket in North Texas.
We filled up four in-ground swimming pools last month. At least that’s what the city of Frisco said. There’s only one small problem with that. We don’t have four pools. We have zero pools. Nonetheless, […]
What your friends with depression want you to know, but are afraid to say
People with depression do our best to hide it. We conceal thoughts no one can understand and no one wants to hear. We remain silent even though we feel like crying or screaming. We pretend nothing […]
Oregon shootings: Christians need to stop saying everything works for good
It wasn’t God’s will. God did not want nine people to die in Roseburg, Oregon. It wasn’t God’s will that a mad man willingly dive headfirst into a searing cauldron of hate and choose to execute his teacher and […]
What happens when families can’t afford the high costs of public schools?
Some families consider things like school supplies or class fees to be incidental expenses, but the very real costs of sending a child to a public school are putting some kids at a disadvantage. It’s time to […]
Hug your children and wear crazy socks in memory of 3-year-old Liam Harris
Liam Harris smiled at me from the pages of the Dallas Morning News. His twinkling eyes and dimpled cheeks drew me in. At 3-years-old, his face still had the gentle softness of the infant he once […]
She bought coffee for the bullying broads who mocked her in line
It happens too often. And it sucks. You’re minding your own business when some smug Mean Girls start talking trash about you and picking you apart for what they perceive to be your physical flaws. […]
A bully-free online community for moms? Yes, please.
Face the facts, there is no such thing as a “perfect mom.” That’s why it’s so tragic for moms to slam and shame each other over silly differences in parenting styles. Unfortunately, too many of […]
Would YOU link your identity with something that goes against your deeply held beliefs?
Despite what one thinks of Davis, her appearance, her manner, or her position, this case has the ability to produce ripple effects in the way people’s religious faith is or is not tolerated in America’s […]
Livestrong at the YMCA rebuilds bodies and souls after cancer treatment
We are four survivors, and our bodies bear the scars of our struggles. One was cut across the throat. Another was sliced through her chest. The third still has an open hole that was once […]
Let Miley Cyrus and Kanye West be a lesson to you; The VMAs and the plight of “pay attention to me, dammit”
Warning: Mature content. Real song lyrics quoted. Because some folks think this stuff deserves awards. Every year, thousands of exceptional writers, thespians and musicians create art that stirs the soul, feeds the mind and changes […]
The truth about living with thyroid cancer, the so-called good cancer
Imagine forgetting how to drive – while you’re in the middle of traffic. Follow that with muscle aches and fatigue – just a few hours after waking up. Lose patches of hair every time your […]
Bridget from cardholder services is stalking me.
Bridget from cardholder services is stalking me. She calls me two, sometimes three, times day with urgent news about my credit card account. If I hold the line for an operator, I can talk to […]
Police lives matter because our lives matter
Officer Sean Bolton’s life and death matter because he believed OUR lives matter. The Memphis police officer valued our lives enough to protect us and bravely confront the evil we like to pretend doesn’t exist. […]
What is it going to take to outrage folks about selling dead baby parts?
What’s it going to take to outrage Planned Parenthood supporters? When does it go too far? Selling mutilated baby parts for research is OK. How about selling them for nutritional supplements? There is no denying […]
You can’t tip a cow, but you can fling a cow chip
You can’t tip a cow, but you can throw a cow chip Life lessons you learn growing up in rural America “Have you ever tipped a cow?” No. Aside from being a cruel thing to […]
Boy writes amazing letter in honor of his mom’s birthday and cancer struggle
An 11-year-old boy knew his mom’s birthday was coming up, so he asked her what she’d like to receive as a present. “Make me something from your heart,” she replied. It been a rough year […]
Only 19 percent of Americans know the First Amendment guarantees freedom of religion
There are five freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment. One-third of Americans can’t name a single one. The annual “State of the First Amendment” by the Newseum Institute yet again revealed substantial ignorance about the […]
Gay marriage and the free exercise of faith should be able to exist side-by-side in America
The news and social landscape of the last few weeks have left me a little shell-shocked with so many people screaming at each other, and I simply can’t support the outrage narrative anymore. Half of […]
Monitoring apps for kids’ devices offer protection and peace of mind
Do parental monitoring apps violate your child’s online privacy? Spoiler alert: There is no such thing as online privacy. There was only one telephone in the house, and it was bolted to the kitchen wall. […]
Father’s Day? Nearly one-third of U.S. children grow up without them
Nearly one-third of American children have a difficult time celebrating Father’s Day. That’s because they’re growing up without their dads. The most recent figures from Pew Research indicate that in 2010, 27 percent of children […]
I glued my rear end and other pageant confessions
Her first words after receiving the crown were, “I don’t think everyone understands how important Miss MSU is.” The crowd collectively groaned. I was in that crowd back in 1991. We were witnesses to an […]
Texas kids shocked by scores on new math STAAR
Texas students received their STAAR reports earlier this week. It wasn’t good news, especially for elementary and middle school students whose math skills were tested based on the state’s new mathematics curriculum, which requires […]
Christians are now supporting Abercrombie and Fitch?
The ultraconservative American Family Association (AFA) is saying “thank you” to Abercrombie and Fitch and now considers the clothing retailer to be “family friendly.” Wait a minute. What just happened? The lovefest is due to […]
Common Core writing standards: Putting a roof on a house while the frame is going up
Writing and learning to write are processes. With Common Core, it’s an “all-at-once” approach. It’s like trying to put a roof and siding on a house while the frame is still going up. In a […]
Four R-rated movies today’s kids should see
I want my kids to watch R-rated movies. Let me explain before you go clutching pearls or putting me on prayer lists. During a recent mom discussion about movies, a mother of young teens exclaimed, […]
Mothers Day greetings aren’t enough; Happy Warrior Queen Day to all the mamas.
Dear fellow mom, I searched long and hard to find the perfect Mother’s Day card for you, but there was nothing that truly captured the real essence of what you do for your family. The […]
Emotional baggage from a parent’s alcoholism can sometimes be a blessing in disguise
Confession time. I carry around some heavy baggage. But I don’t travel. I have a few emotional suitcases stuffed with feelings about things that have happened to me, and unfortunately, lugging this crap around has […]
STAAR turns Spring into a parenting nightmare
April and May are the worst months to be a Texas parent. We’re expected to send our children off to two or more four-hour internments where they are forbidden to move, eat, drink or use […]
When is a child old enough to do things on his own?
I transitioned from helicopter parent to free-range parent. And my kids are OK. At least I think they are. I started out as one of those over-protective, over-controlling and over-perfecting parents who hovered around my […]
Women are scary and other issues with female friendship
Confession time. I have a hard time making friends. Especially with women. Women scare me. I tuned out of the whole estrogen-bonding thing back in high school when I realized dealing with girls involved way […]
What you wish you could say when a coach ignores your child
Dear Coach, I made a huge mistake by trusting you with my child. I gave you a great kid who LOVED the game and did everything you told him to do, and now this same […]
Read paragraph, get offended, leave comment.
I guarantee people will find something offensive in this article. Culture is encouraging teen girls to dress and act like sluts. People should be free to practice their religion without government interference. Israel has the […]
Dear Directioners, I am sorry for your loss.
Dear Directioners, As a mom, it hurts me to see how upset you are about Zayn leaving the band. I’m sorry you have to go through this. Your heart has been broken, and you really […]
Parent pleads with schools to stop the STAAR videos and pep rallies
In the long run, these videos and special events are emphasizing a horribly distorted testing system, and kids get the message their value is attached to how they perform on the test. Please stop […]
How do you mourn the death of a parent who left you?
My daddy died when I was 10-years-old. My father died two weeks ago. Both are the same man. I buried his memory in my heart 35 years ago, and I buried his body just 14 […]
New survey reveals social media likes are more important than real life
It’s official. We now have research that reveals more and more of us are losing connection with our lives in order to earn likes and social media praise. Aaargh! We all knew this was coming. […]
More things your friends with cancer want you to know
The tips below have been provided by Roadkill Goldfish readers in response to the original post, What your friends with cancer want you to know, but afraid to say. CHILDHOOD CANCER Shared by Tiffany, the […]
Why aren’t mechanics invited to Career Day events?
What do you want to be when you grow up? That question was posed to my daughter and other eighth graders at our local middle school’s Career Day program. She and 300 other kids were […]
Tipping conservative sacred cows with the Chicks on the Right
Finally, conservatives who aren’t old, stodgy, male or myopic about social issues! The plain-speaking and witty Chicks on the Right are giving today’s conservatism a much-needed makeover and a healthy dose of “Lighten up, Francis.” […]
Christians need to stop promoting “50 Shades of Grey”
Just like every other chick, I love a plot-deficient masochistic-bondage-domination love story between two thinly-developed and psychologically-damaged characters. (Intense sarcasm here.) Nothing thrills me more than bad actors spouting crappy dialogue on the silver screen. […]
It’s not child porn if you take the photos at your local Target store
It’s okay to take photos up middle school girls’ skirts, as long as you do it in a public place. That’s what Oregon judge Eric Butterfield ruled Thursday when 61-year old Patrick Buono was brought […]
Why television shows have gotten rougher and why ratings don’t always work
You’re not old, and you’re not imagining it. Today’s prime-time television shows are MUCH rougher and raunchier than they were just a few years ago. And it’s perfectly legal according to today’s Federal Communication Commission […]
Why this Christian chick wears leggings
It all hit the fan when Christian blogger Veronica Partridge wrote she would no longer wear leggings or yoga pants in public because she learned men check out women wearing leggings or yoga pants in […]
If you could protect your child from developing cancer, would you do it?
A former anti-Gardasil parent talks about why she changed her mind about giving the vaccine to her children. There’s something about a life-threatening disease that makes you rethink a lot of things. Most often, these […]
New video: My teenager after oral surgery
Parenting does have its rewards. Please enjoy 60-seconds of my kid making an impassioned plea for cash from the tooth fairy. She had oral surgery just an hour earlier; I filmed and laughed my rear […]
Roadkill Goldfish’s Top Ten Posts of 2014
Thank you for helping make Roadkill Goldfish one of the most read blogs on the Internet during 2014. Some of the naysayers expected the blog to fade into obscurity after 2013’s 4.1 million readers, but […]
Guest Post: Teacher says lowered standards and lack of personal responsibility hurt education
The following post is a guest post from Chris, a teacher in Arkansas. I am printing his first name only because Chris, like many public school teachers, fears reprisal if he publicly speaks out about […]
Lawsuit alleges Claus promotes hostile and unsafe work environment in shelf-elf program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DALLAS – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed a lawsuit today against the Keller family and Santa Claus alleging they violated federal civil rights laws by permitting a hostile work environment […]
I volunteer to take every STAAR exam this spring
I volunteer to take every STAAR test required for Texas’s high school students. Every single one of them. Give me a box of number 2 pencils, a big eraser and a few cans of Red […]
Why don’t boys like me?
Too many girls want to know how to make boys like them; boys should be wanting to know how to be worthy. Our girls are facing relationships standards that are rougher than we ever imagined, […]
When Helen was 107
It was a twisted mass of embroidery thread at the bottom of my sewing basket. Thread I hadn’t used in more than 14 years. It reminded me of her. We were sitting on a sofa […]
After the pediatrician says “tumor”
My son has a tumor in his leg. He had been complaining about pain in his legs for a few months, and I chalked it up to growing pains or shin splints. I finally “found […]
I want to quit being a mom
I have a confession. I have no idea what I’m doing with this whole parenting thing, and whatever I’m doing doesn’t seem to be working right now. I want to quit being a mom. There […]
Social Media 101: Five things parents need to do right now
Moms and dads, we’re ignorant and clueless. A 2013 survey done by Internet security company, McAfee, revealed more than 80 percent of U.S. parents say they don’t have the time or energy to keep up […]
Does Renee Zellweger look like a natural 45-year-old woman?
What should a 45-year-old woman look like? Does she have wrinkles around her eyes from more than four decades of smiling? Does her body reveal an amazingly beautiful heart that brought life into this world […]
Can we get rid of the grown-ups in youth sports?
I hate youth sports. Let me rephrase that, I hate the adults involved in youth sports. To be fair, most of the adults are pretty level-headed and see sports as a learning opportunity for their […]
If Houston’s mayor wants sermons, let’s give her sermons
The mayor of Houston recently subpoenaed local pastors for copies of their sermons. She’s not looking for inspiration; she’s looking for content her office can use in a legal case. According to the Washington Post, […]
A suspected case of Ebola was in my backyard and two cases confirmed in my city
UPDATE 10/12: The local sheriff’s deputy who went into the home of patient zero has tested NEGATIVE for Ebola after scaring the snot of me and the rest of my neighbors. However, the CDC today […]
What to do with mom during the zombie apocalypse
So, my family was talking about what we would do to survive a zombie apocalypse… This morning. On the way to church. Allow me to explain for a brief second. Yes, we are Christians — […]
Can’t make this up: Football coach smacks kid, gets three game suspension
There is something unusual about Texas dads and football. Upon birth, every father signs his son up for the sport. If he ever played the game in his youth, he has a sacred obligation to […]
Who picked a college textbook for 9th grade biology?
This is my 14-year-old daughter’s biology book. She is taking a Pre-AP biology course at a Texas high school. The Pre-AP (pre-advanced placement) program is supposed to offer courses that are on grade level, but […]
A man who hits you once will hit you twice
A man who hits you once will hit you twice. And then a third time. Even if he begs and pleads, “I don’t know what came over me” or “I promise this will never happen […]
Thyroid cancer rates continue to grow; learn how to protect yourself
I am one in 62,980. That’s the number of Americans who will be diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2014. I was diagnosed in April 2014. The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland just beneath your Adam’s […]
Texas officials upset over low STAAR scores; won’t admit problems with the test and curriculum.
It’s time to increase rigor because Texas kids are stupid. That’s the message Texans heard this week from our legislators in Austin. State Education Commissioner Michael Williams came under fire over his decision to […]
Nicki Minaj’s bum causes more outrage than ISIS murders
The MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) went just as expected. There was simulated sex with a back-up dancer, a wardrobe malfunction, and an F-bomb heavy ode to the powers of a big booty. (Congratulations, Nicki […]
8 things every high school freshman needs to hear NOW
Today’s freshmen aren’t told the whole truth about high school and life after graduation. Here are the 8 things they really need to know. My daughter starts high school next week, and she’s already […]
Readers share their cancer stories with Roadkill Goldfish
It’s a club no one wants to talk about and no one wants to join. However, more than 1.8 million people from around the globe came together on Roadkill Goldfish to acknowledge their membership, share […]
Scam artist David Jenkins from Process Mediation called my house.
The message on my phone this afternoon seemed a bit ominous. I had to call David Jenkins at Process Mediation within 48 hours because of “possible litigation against me.” Oh crap. I’ve had run-ins with […]