The Bigger Discussion Behind That "Oreogate" Saga

From the NPN Weekly: What that viral debate spurred by the humble Oreo is really all about.

Trending: Oreos vs. Kindergarten Mom Group Chat

It all started with an Oreo cookie in a kindergartner's lunchbox and ended up in a series of viral screenshots from a mom group chat.

Here's the rub: One mom took to the group chat to ask the other parents to stop sending cookies and sweets in their kids' lunches.

The reasoning? It's really hard on her child who doesn't eat these kinds of foods at home.

The other parents chimed in, the internet did too, and even the school offered a neutral stance that encourages healthy options and the discretion of the parent to decide what's packed.

On its surface, this argument over an Oreo is benign and maybe even silly (or fake), but it does raise some timely questions about teaching kids resilience through disappointment and even working through the challenges of comparison.

It's also a reflection of the sticky way motherhood surfaces on the internet in that toxic mom group sort of way. ...

In Chicago Parenting News:

Axios reports that CPS decided against giving high school students Gemini access.
The Chicago Sun-Times says these are the four things to keep an eye on around CPS this new school year.
CPS has restored more than 300 full-time positions upon the return to school.
Ten "L" stops now have animal-shaped, child-sized benches for kiddos to rest on.

Parenting IRL: High School Writing Requirements

If you're a parent of or know of parents of high school students in the Chicago area, have you encountered hand-written standards applied in the classroom?

One parent in the Chicago suburbs is encountering this requirement for completely hand-written, legible assignments—or a failed grade.

But what if your child needs different accommodations and this writing requirement becomes "one more thing to try to advocate for in the IEP meeting and then make sure it actually happens in the classroom?"

Please weigh in!