Jean Yih Kingston

Jean Yih Kingston's photo
Jean Kingston, who co-founded SixSeeds, spends many of her waking hours in her SUV hauling carloads of children to various and sundry playing fields across the state of Massachusetts. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania.

Bio

Jean is co-founder, with her husband John, of SixSeeds. She also serves as its ambassador in a small town outside Boston, notably through the purchase of the local video store as a service to the town. When not trying to save the last remnants of community gathering spots, she loves to write, play tennis and enthusiastically cheer for her kids ("Mom, you're too loud!") from the sidelines. Her children include Caitlin (17), Annalise (15), Christopher (11), and William (7 1/2), who played on nine separate teams this past season. 

 

Jean graduated from the University of Pennsylvania (where she met John in the dorms on one of the first days of college) in 1988 with a B.A. in both Biological Basis of Behavior and Elementary Education.  In 1991, she earned her MS.Ed in Psychological Services from Penn’s Graduate School of Education.

 

 

12 Things to Know About Jean:

 

1. You won't really understand me unless you've watched this movie(s):

Bella, When Harry Met Sally, The Shawshank Redemption, Braveheart, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Good Will Hunting and The Parent Trap (the one with a young Lindsay Lohan)

2. I'm most liable to get choked up when I hear about:

A parent who has lost a child.

3. If I had a completely free day to do anything I wanted, I would:

Take a long run around the lake, have a languishing breakfast with my husband John at Henrietta's Table in Harvard Square, drink cappuccinos and read junky magazines at a cafe with a friend, cap off the day with a Red Sox game with my family

4. My kids drive me crazy when they:

Complain about dinner before it's even on the table

5. I drive my kids crazy when I:

Sing along to KISS 108 when they have friends in the car

6. If you're going to give me a gift card, get me one from this store:

Banana Republic, Apple

7. I'm most proud of my kids when they:

Show consideration to each other and respect to adults

8. If I had a million dollars to give to a charity, I'd give it to:

World Vision

9. My go-to comfort food(s):

Dove milk chocolate squares, vanilla ice cream with sliced bananas and french fries

10. If I could snap my finger and make some problem in the world go away, it would be:

Judgment

11. Home chore or professional task I hate to do:

Forms for the start of the school year and filing

12. I'm slightly embarrassed to admit that I watch or read:

People Magazine whenever I can get my hands on it

 

 

Jean Yih Kingston’s Articles

 

Revenge (ABC Family, 10PM EST Wednesdays)  

“Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.”…
Posted in: LifestyleLife   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

Seeing Past the Shiny Car  

I’d only rolled backwards three, maybe four feet when I heard a…
Posted in: ContentParenting   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

More Than the Shirt Off My Back: My Short Stint as Underwear Mom  

More Than the Shirt Off My Back: My Short Stint as Underwear Mom Last…
Posted in: ContentParenting   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

True to the Red Sox  

“Will we definitely make it to the play-offs?” William asked.…
Posted in: ContentParenting   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

Some Children Should Be Left Behind: An Examination of the "No Kids" Movement  

I love how newborns can sleep anywhere and in any position.  And when…
Posted in: ContentParenting   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

Pulling a "Carter"  

Doilies, pink construction paper and old magazines littered the surfaces…
Posted in: ContentParenting   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

Ideas for Martin Luther King Day  

“Did that really happen?” my son William asked me one cold…
Posted in: ContentParenting   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

Remembering  

"We remember Jack's life and adventures through this slideshow --…
Posted in: LifestyleLife   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

Dear Jack  

Two weeks before he died, I wrote my father-in-law a letter . . . he asked…
Posted in: LifestyleLife   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

Our Huge Problem  

“Houston, we have a problem.”  As does San Antonio,…
Posted in: ContentTelevision   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

A Truly Beautiful Game  

The concept is easy. You need players, an object to kick and something to…
Posted in: LifestyleLife   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

“I Could Never Sleep When You Were Sick.”  

“I could never sleep when you were sick.”When we were young…
Posted in: ContentParenting   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

REVIEW: The Book of Awesome  

It all started with Broccoflower.  In 2008, Neil Pasricha’s…
Posted in: ContentBooks   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

Bullying. It Hasn't Gotten Better  

“Come on guys, we’ve got fifteen minutes.” My 7th…
Posted in: ContentParenting   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

Where’s the Parenting in Parenthood?  

Ads for the new show Parenthood (Tuesdays 10PM EST) were everywhere we…
Posted in: ContentTelevision   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

Getting “Owned” at the Winchester Trivia Bee  

When I drove around Winchester, MA, just before we moved here ten years…
Posted in: Current EventsNews Wire   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

Good Parents Gone Bad  

Helicopters? Hovercrafts? Black Hawks? Stealth Fighters? No, these aren't…
Posted in: ContentParenting   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

Between Excess and Scarcity  

I wore a scratchy red and black plaid dress, white nylon tights and stiff…
Posted in: ContentParenting   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

Could Service Be a Key to Happy Kids?  

“Aqui, aqui!!,” yelled my filthy, smiling son as he sprinted…
Posted in: ContentService   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

As a Mother of Two "Wild Things"  

I agree wholeheartedly with you, Nathan, on this - I think it's about…
Posted in: LifestyleRainDrop   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

Just as good as a hit  

Somehow today's parents can still manage to create a fantasy sports world…
Posted in: LifestyleRainDrop   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

Calligraphy and the crackers  

Okay, it’s not 5:04AM, but more like 5:40. I love the early…
Posted in: LifestyleRainDrop   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

5:04  

Months ago, I’d get up at 6:30AM, each day wishing I could sleep a…
Posted in: LifestyleRainDrop   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

Reverse is not an option  

I was about twenty when I first watched Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, a…
Posted in: LifestyleRainDrop   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

Candy land  

Boxes and boxes of candy filled two huge rooms and the children's eyes…
Posted in: LifestyleRainDrop   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

Lemonade  

When my husband John walked into our local video store a couple of months…
Posted in: LifestyleRainDrop   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

Nine teams  

It’s been difficult for me to blog regularly this spring, partly…
Posted in: LifestyleRainDrop   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

Let's bott-le it up and sell it  

I remember when I was in fifth grade and a new girl from England joined…
Posted in: LifestyleRainDrop   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

RMV Happiness  

I notice customer service so much more as an experienced consumer than I…
Posted in: LifestyleRainDrop   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

The hero in blue  

When it hit the cement floor and bounced, I gasped.  I picked up and…
Posted in: LifestyleRainDrop   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

The plus side of allergies  

For the last month, there’s been a positive change in…
Posted in: LifestyleRainDrop   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

Everyday people  

Students voiced complaint when they heard US Representative Michael…
Posted in: LifestyleRainDrop   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

Appreciating the world's largest rodent  

Capybaras are the largest rodents in the world, grow to 140 lbs and eat…
Posted in: LifestyleRainDrop   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

Press "A" for exercise  

This morning I told William we were going to take a walk into town to do a…
Posted in: LifestyleRainDrop   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

Wake-up call  

The snickering started as soon as the woman stepped on stage.  She…
Posted in: LifestyleRainDrop   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

I love my bongos more than I love you  

“He’s so cute.”People often tell me this about our six…
Posted in: LifestyleRainDrop   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

What Would You Do (WWYD)?  

I’m a big fan of practical jokes, so I was mesmerized by the…
Posted in: LifestyleRainDrop   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

Kitchen table editing  

"You’re great at editing!" It was an unexpected and high…
Posted in: LifestyleRainDrop   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

No regrets  

Last night, I sat down in front of the television, waiting for my husband…
Posted in: LifestyleRainDrop   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

Another use for a vacuum cleaner  

We came home to find our baby sleeping soundly in a baby swing with the…
Posted in: LifestyleRainDrop   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

Even their piggy banks are cuter  

When I grew up, we had rules about not being wasteful.  I especially…
Posted in: LifestyleRainDrop   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

It's all about the relationships  

A Christian Science Monitor article, “Does Community Service…
Posted in: LifestyleRainDrop   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

If Stella May had enough....  

I just read an article in today’s Boston Globe about a spirited…
Posted in: LifestyleRainDrop   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

A belt and a photo  

A few posts back, Nancy asked if there was a gift that lit up the kid's…
Posted in: LifestyleRainDrop   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

Just double-checking  

Upon waking, I’m surprised to find it snowed.  I’m never…
Posted in: LifestyleRainDrop   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

Gold  

“Take this…” said his professor.The bag of shiny gold…
Posted in: LifestyleRainDrop   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

Two more  

Hey, Nancy -- here are two more good ones:Xerox Let's Say Thanks and Give…
Posted in: LifestyleRainDrop   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

Keeping her hair  

I heard a story the other day that has really stuck with me.  The…
Posted in: LifestyleRainDrop   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

Home Invasion  

“Don’t you just want to throw the thing in the…
Posted in: LifestyleRainDrop   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

"Pairing" Down  

In 1994, we lived in a one bedroom apartment and our toddler Caitlin had…
Posted in: LifestyleRainDrop   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

The Great Equalizer  

“One tall latte please.”I’m at Starbucks with my…
Posted in: LifestyleRainDrop   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

Batteries Not Required  

That day, we fled our home to escape the technology.It was vacation and…
Posted in: LifestyleRainDrop   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

Let Me Explain  

"Am I going to sit with you guys?" asked James, our seven…
Posted in: LifestyleRainDrop   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

Wait!  

Saturday morning had gotten away from me.Just the day before, we were…
Posted in: LifestyleRainDrop   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

A Hundred Moves  

“I’m going to have to do that at least thirty-seven more…
Posted in: LifestyleRainDrop   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

Dos Sorpresas (Two Surprises)  

“I have a big surprise for you,” Ricardo said in Spanish…
Posted in: LifestyleRainDrop   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

Boarding School? How Could You?  

“I want to go to Harvard and afterwards be a hair cutter,”…
Posted in: LifestyleRainDrop   |   By Jean Yih Kingston
 

Pilates and the Haitian farmer  

“Jean, I love how you sweat!” My Pilates instructor offers…
Posted in: LifestyleRainDrop   |   By Jean Yih Kingston