I started teaching right out of college and I have spent all but the first four years of my teaching career trying to normalize the reality that my students and I are targets that can die in our school. It’s not hyperbole. It’s reality. It’s time for us to put our political differences aside and enact national solutions.
Category Archives: Uncategorized
The Kind of Parent All Kids Deserve
I met Carol 30 plus years ago. She was my high school social studies teacher. While she expected a lot of her students, Carol embodied what a strong work ethic and determination looked like every single day. Carol made us better students and better people. At the same time, it was abundantly clear how muchContinue reading “The Kind of Parent All Kids Deserve”
Ten Years Learning How to Say Goodbye
My big brother died unexpectedly ten years ago. He was 39 years old, my only sibling, and someone who always had my back. I’ve spent the past ten years learning how to say goodbye to him. Like most siblings, our relationship was complicated. My brother Jerry was my first and best friend when we wereContinue reading “Ten Years Learning How to Say Goodbye”
Pariah of Motherhood-What It’s Like to be a Single Mom of a Severely Autistic Child
Written by Jeanene Lyons When I was a kid growing up in the 80s, I never imagined becoming a single parent. Despite my affinity for 1980s TV sitcoms, I knew single parenthood was NOT a Who’s the Boss, Punky Brewster, or Diff’rent Strokes scenario. I was raised by a single mom and knew the poverty,Continue reading “Pariah of Motherhood-What It’s Like to be a Single Mom of a Severely Autistic Child”
Unquiet Earth
By Allyson Wuerth
Some Words are Worth a Thousand Pictures*
By Melissa Beck *This post first appeared on Melissa’s blog, thebookbindersdaughter.com What a difference a day makes. Isn’t that how the song goes? On July 1st I was in the garden reading poetry, lots and lots of poetry and Esther Kinsky’s book Grove which is newly translated into English by Caroline Schmidt and thinking aboutContinue reading “Some Words are Worth a Thousand Pictures*”
How should I talk to my white son about racism?
How should I talk to my white son about racism? This is a question I am struggling with. My son is eight. We’ve always talked about equality and fairness. We celebrate people who promote equality for all. We read the words of Dr. King, watch videos of his speeches, and bake “equality cupcakes” each yearContinue reading “How should I talk to my white son about racism?”
More Time for Being
By Allyson Wuerth So many days have I wished for a slower pace—even just one day where I could breathe in and breathe out, a day when I didn’t run out of my house at exactly 6:21 every morning, dart off to Starbucks for my Venti English Breakfast hot tea, and then to school (usuallyContinue reading “More Time for Being”
Why I Won’t Complain
These are hard times. Who can argue otherwise? A third of the world’s population is in lockdown because of coronvirus. With that comes massive unemployment rates and business decline. Close to two million people have contracted coronavirus. Over 100,000 have died of COVID-19. The days, weeks, and months ahead look bleak, but I’m not goingContinue reading “Why I Won’t Complain”
A new kind of village
I’m an extrovert. My cup gets filled by spending time with my people. I need them to laugh with, to cry with, to tell stories with, and mostly, to raise my kids with. I am a village person. My ideal living situation would be to join up with three or four other families whom IContinue reading “A new kind of village”
Mommyhood 