Feeling growing pains — and watching beauty and grace blossoming before me
It was early on a Sunday evening. The three of us sat around the small round table in the area of our house that we have loosely described as the […]
Music echoes through time — but now I hear dead people
Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and bottles of bubbles … During our more-than 2000-mile trip, that Arianna Grande pop hit was on some sort of radio perpetual motion machine, playing in every […]
Moving to Florida: Frustration and chaos, but Daughter’s smile overshadows all
Never has there been such turmoil, such change, such incredibly demanding work. My family’s possessions are scattered: A full storage unit in Florida. A stuffed PackRat trailer stashed in Cherry […]
New memories of Kindergarten, inside looking out: Small students, big hearts
It’s Kindergarten Graduation Time. Again. It’s been six years since Young Daughter made this same step up to 1st grade. It’s the kind of June morning where the mugginess plasters […]
Sweet friendship is blind for Birthday girls; meanwhile, one gift is painful irony
You know she’s growing up when she hits the birthday when the gifts include only one toy … and a collection of clothing, books, gift cards, a beautiful photo collage […]
Kindergarten: Finding a classroom home during students’ Age of Exploration
Kindergarten? Kindergarten. Kindergarten! If you had asked me a year ago the grade level I’d be least likely to teach, that was the answer. But here I am: In a […]
By any other name, subtle race stereotypes still haunt us
“My name is TRACEY. You should know that. I’ve worked here for six years.” Embarrassment crept up the back of my neck as I mumbled, “Sorry.” It didn’t matter. she […]
First day of 5th Grade: A year to learn about yourself and make (good) memories that last
First day of 5th Grade. A new school year. A new, grown-up “tween” world view. A new uniform shirt color. She told me at breakfast this morning she felt nervous, […]
When her feelings turn from tender to toxic, best strategy is keeping my mouth shut
What’s bothering her? She’s barely 10 years old. What weight of the world is she carrying? Is there something big going on in her life, or is she simply submerged […]
Turning 10: A milestone among memories — but hoping she’ll never outgrow her inner child
10 years old. Double digits. Whoa. I remember standing in the upstairs hallway of the house I grew up in, contemplating my own 10th birthday. “A decade old,” I told […]
