My girls have not yet experienced A Loss. One of the big, impacting ones. Even I – who have experienced significant losses – am still privileged to have My Biggest Losses be a future event. Today marks the three year anniversary of A Loss in our family. It was not someone my children knew well. They don’t fully understand the circumstances surrounding The Loss, or … Continue reading Showing Up: A Lesson
I’m a high school teacher and a parent of elementary-aged children. All of us have been participating in school 100% online since March. Every day is an adventure. But some adventures are more exciting than others and today was an exceptionally interesting experience. The day started out well, because the night before I made sure that the kids got all of their school materials ready. … Continue reading Get a Glimpse: Online Learning, Today’s Version
We’re on week three of online learning. Me, as a high school teacher, and my children, as 1st and 3rd grade students. Everything is crazy and takes longer than usual as all three of us are utilizing every possible mode of technology during every single minute of the school day. I’m Zooming, screensharing, document cameraing, backchanneling, emailing, snapchatting, texting, recording, creating, saving, and feedbacking all … Continue reading This is What Online Learning Actually Looks Like
She was a collector. A saver. A pack rat. She saved the smell of bubble gum breath and cinnamon-scented hair, of coconut detangler and Vicks Vaporub. She stockpiled the feel of soft, tiny toes pressed gently against her lips. Of monkey-like legs wrapped around her waist. She had a impressive collection of uppies and lay-with-mes and an infinite number of one-two-three-whees. She saved snippets of … Continue reading She Was a Hoarder
Today I walked around my neighborhood – not the entire thing, but a circular loop around two blocks of houses. I knew it was a longer stretch than I can go without being kept up later tonight from nerve pain, but this morning I decided it was worth it. I needed to walk. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Campus Walk was scheduled for today … Continue reading A Painful Walk
I can’t even believe this is true, but I’ve been blogging for 6 years now. SIX! I realize this type of statement is the kind of things people (like me) start to say at a certain age when time suddenly starts flying by at record speed and they can’t believe the cashier at the register didn’t even card them when they bought wine and, even … Continue reading The SECRET REASON I’ve been a half-assed blogger all of these years.
Today my three year old self-reflected for the first time in her life. Or, maybe she didn’t. But for the first time ever, she shared her self-reflection with me. That – for sure – is true. That’s the amazing thing about having kids. You get to witness their first-evers and those first-evers last……forever? I don’t know the expiration date on that but while it … Continue reading I’ve Been Giving My Threenager a Bad Rap
Boy and girl, though young and immature, both recognized Their Pull. Pulling like an electric current around a giant loop. A tingly, weighty, attraction. Attracting them towards each other – their hands, their hips, their hearts. Hearts and bodies aged, and the older they grew, the stronger Their Pull. Pulling them with a sharp yank if they tried to push back. Back to back … Continue reading Their Pull
Last week I felt like I was constantly rushing. Rushing downstairs when I woke up to make the coffee and get myself ready. Rushing to rouse the girls and help them get dressed and brush their hair. Rushing out the door and heading to daycare drop-off – making sure I pulled into the parking lot precisely at 7:15. I knew I had a one minute … Continue reading Stay With Me – Ignoring That Pile of Dishes In My Sink
I used to care, you guys. I used to REALLY care about my thighs. And sometimes my arms. If they weren’t as toned or as thin as I thought they ought to be, it really ruined my mood. I wasted a lot of good years being moody about a lot of stupid things, one of the biggies being my body. I’ve reached the point where I … Continue reading I’m Ten Pounds Overweight and I Cannot Be Bothered to Even Try to Lose Those Stupid Extra Pounds
A Morning Grouch 