2021 was a weird one, friends. The promise with which it began quickly devolved into chaos within the new year’s first week. Things after that, to me, never quite seemed real. Seriously, on more than one occasion, I caught myself dating correspondence or banking paperwork as the previous year, 2020. It was almost as … Continue reading Bitches Brew, or the women in my life
Category: moms
The joys of parenting
Often, it seems, at least in dysfunctional families, that folks approach parenting with the goal of being the antithesis of their own parents. The less similar to the preceding generation we are, the better things are for all involved. Trust me. My parenting goals were few, beyond raising good humans. Of course, I hoped my … Continue reading The joys of parenting
Punching Bag
Perhaps you remember the post I wrote about Rex Ogle’s memoir Free Lunch. That book centered on the year Rex was in 6th grade and detailed the physical, verbal and emotional abuse he suffered while living as a child with his mother, stepfather and younger brother. While I’ve never been physically abused, the book landed … Continue reading Punching Bag
Keeping it together as the Beatles fall apart
I’ve been binging on Peter Jackson’s documentary series, Get Back, about the Beatles and it really couldn’t have come at a better time. It’s the kind of show, in my opinion, that doesn’t require acute attention and that’s kind of where I am at present. The project most certainly was a labor of love for … Continue reading Keeping it together as the Beatles fall apart
Your mother never was one
Recently, I've been on a Lumineers kick and the title of this post comes from their song, Donna. It wasn’t the first lyric in the song that caught my ear, but it was the one that prompted me to write it down. Let’s just say it resonated. I’ve written, and even publicly spoken, about finding … Continue reading Your mother never was one
Summer school(ed)
This week I’ll begin my 27th year teaching. If you factor in my own years as a student, I’ve spent 45+ years of my life greeting September by returning to school. That’s a long time. Despite all those decades of experience, a new school year always comes with a combination of excitement and dread. Each … Continue reading Summer school(ed)
Summer bromance
For a woman who can’t seem to pick the right guy, it feels kind of ironic that I’m surrounded by males. Case in point - at the moment, I’m sharing a home with two children, two cats and a dog. All males. My middle son has, after two years on his own, temporarily moved back … Continue reading Summer bromance