This year I got to go out trick or treating with Husband and Daughter for the first time in six years. Before we moved and after she was three and only went to half a dozen houses, I stayed home for the even to hand out candy to my current, former, and future students. I… Continue reading This is Halloween
I’ve never been sure what I believe in the nature versus nurture argument out there in the world. I’ve seen kids who are delightful who have horrible parents and horrible kids with sweet parents. I’ve also seen sweet kids and parents and horrible kids and parents. When Husband and I were waiting for Daughtger to… Continue reading Nature vs nurture
A while back I wrote a blog post about the power of the word “but.” It got a great reaction and got me rolling on this whole blog business. It’s was my reflection of a change I made in my classroom, my personal life, and my parenting style, coming from a place of concern for… Continue reading More powerful than but?
In the 1980’s my mom had a big white t-shirt that had written on it, in bold black letters, all caps, “DON’T WORRY BE HAPPY.” She wore it as a swimming cover up and I remember being embarrassed by the shirt for some weird pre-teenage/teenage reason. I secretly loved the song but had judged the… Continue reading Here’s a little blog I wrote
A person I love and respect very much is a bit more than ten years my senior. He gives me insight into what’s coming next as I age when he describes things he notices about himself now, and it’s good to have a picture of the mysteries ahead. Something he pointed out to me a… Continue reading Aging emotions
On February 7, 2013, I met an amazing author. Ralph Fletcher, writer of children’s books and guru about getting kids (especially boys) to write was teaching a session at a reading conference I was attending. I went to see him speak and learn from him because I so admired the memoir he wrote, Marshfield Dreams,… Continue reading The good old days
This week is parent teacher conferences at Daughter’s school, which means she only has class Monday through Wednesday. By some ridiculous stroke of luck and series of wonderful coincidences, we managed these things: an earlier conference on Thursday morning, Husband has Thursday-Sunday off to spend with us, our favorite pet sitter was available, Husband’s sister… Continue reading Childlike giddiness
Daughter has been rocking short hair for a long time now, and she’s decided to grow it out. I’ve grown out a pixie myself and I know first hand that it can lead to some pretty frustrating bad hair days. Because Daughter is at the age when that really bothers her and because I’m a… Continue reading Strong and unique
I have been doing a lot of things I never could have imagined lately. I had no idea that my life would have me working from home and starting to really enjoy it. While I’m still hoping for an opportunity, this is pretty good for now. Never did I ever think that I would need… Continue reading Never imagined
I’m so dang tired, y’all. I’ve been watching the debate between our most likely choices for president and my soul hurts. I have a very strong opinion about who I would like to win the presidential race, and I don’t need to speak about what that is. I do not believe I am choosing the… Continue reading Sorry, guys…
Elephants in the Room 