Not a Forever-Goodbye

About a week ago, I told my oldest students the story of the events surrounding this post from eight years ago. After moving seven times in five years, constantly starting over and proving myself repeatedly, I thought I'd found my place to put down roots -- only to have the rug ripped out from under...

A Year of Reading

In the town we lived in when my kids were born, our local library had a "1000 Books by Kindergarten!" program. Kids who reached this achievement won their names on the wall, a free book, and even a stuffed animal, I think. I'm not really sure, because I never signed my kids up for it....

Living Deliberately (or A Mom Who Reads)

Disclaimer:  I promised this wouldn't turn into a "mommy blog" and I intend to keep it that way.  This post will use the word "mom" a lot, and because of that I debated whether or not to share it here.  I decided, yes, it applies, because it's less about my daughter and more about how...

Two weeks old, Eleven years in the making

Hanging on our wall next to our wedding photos is another picture of Dan and I, taken exactly eleven years ago on Feb. 7th, 2004.  It's us on our first date - an 18 year old me in a recycled prom dress with a 20 year old Dan before he rocked his current beard-and-shaved-head style.  We look so different,...

Minefields and Marriage Vows

I usually do not form a strong emotional attachment to love songs.  Most of them are a bunch of fluff that has very little to do with what a real, life-long love story looks like.  Especially these days.  Taylor Swift's misunderstanding of Romeo & Juliet and One Direction's insistence that "the way that you flip...

Strong for Someone Else

"It hurts!"  She gasped and sobbed as she stumbled along behind me.  "It hurts!" "It's OK, I know.  We're almost back.  We'll be OK, you'll see.  You can do it."  I kept up what I hoped was a soothing monologue, all the while ignoring each new scratch and cut tearing at my legs.  I was...

Learning Responsibility, Part 2: Finances

When I went to college, people understood my study habits, but many of my new friends couldn't relate to my budgeting habits.  I was often amused by a certain friend's reaction when I said I didn't want to buy something because I didn't want to spend the money.  "Why not?!" he'd ask, slightly incredulous.  "I...

Learning Responsibility, Part 1: Work Ethic

"Responsibility is the acceptance of oneself as the cause of one's current situation, and it is the willingness to cope with that situation." Mr. Fluegel, my quirky 9th grade science teacher, required his students to recite that definition of responsibility every day at the beginning of class.  He had us write it on tests and...

The Adult Who Should Have Been There for Me

I have a confession to make.  When I strip away all my ambition and dreams of preparing teens for their futures and revamped career explorations, I need to admit that there's another reason that drives what I do every day as a teacher.  There's a story behind why I fight so hard to connect with...

How Barnes & Noble Prepared Me for Life After High School

I've always been an avid reader, and in 8th grade I identified myself as a lover of classic literature.  Whether or not that was a good thing may be up for discussion, but it was fact.  My junior and senior year of high school, there was a Barnes & Noble directly on my route.  I drove...