This year I sent two children off to school, but I’m keeping one at home.
Even though Brody just turned three, I’m waiting another year before I enroll him in preschool and two more years after that before Kindergarten- which he will start having just turned six.
Yes, six.
And yes, I’m sure.
In our school district there’s a movement to change the rules, and our views, on the Kindergarten entrance age, and I’m against it. Here’s why. Read more…
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Where in the world do you live? And, are you from there?
I live in Minnesota and no, I’m definitely not from here. I was born in Israel and ended up here through West Virginia, New Jersey, and California. How did I end up in the least temperate place ever? Love. It always comes down to that, doesn’t it?
What language(s) do you speak?
I’m fluent in English and Hebrew and did the requisite four years of Spanish in high school, for which I have almost nothing to show.
When did you first become a mother?
My oldest is seven years old. She was born in 2004 and is starting second grade next year. Sob, sniffle.
Are you a stay-at-home mom or do you work?
I’ve run the gamut on this one! In the last seven years I’ve worked outside of the home and stayed at home. Right now I feel lucky to be at home with my little ones while pursuing writing. Sometimes I have a hard time balancing working from home and just being at home. Read more…
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“I don’t see color. Everyone is exactly the same in my eyes.” My heart sinks at the mere thought of these words that were considered best practice when I was in the classroom.
As teachers, we discussed treating all students the same way- because it sounded right, and should have felt right. They’re all the same! I love them all! I’m equitable, dammit!
But, as I was leaving the classroom to stay at home with my children, this trend was ending. It ended because it was wrong. Read more…
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Kayli and I sit side by side at our kitchen table.
Her hair glistens auburn and I think, You’re so pretty.
She cracks a clever joke and I respond, You’re so funny.
She completes her assignment and I smile, You’re so smart.
On the surface these are words of love meant to hold her close. But digging a little bit deeper and thinking a titch more long-term, these are impossibly high standards that no one -no one- can live up to.
I learned this lesson in college when I studied how efficiently words mold.
I learned it again in graduate school when I read everything that I could get my eyes on about self-esteem.
I learned it yet again as a teacher when I took courses about building student confidence.
And I forgot it all once I became a mother. Read more…
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In the seven years that I’ve been a mom, I have found some new interests, passions and ahem fixations. One of them being to find the best playgrounds in town.
I never used to worry about that before I had kids. Or, the finest pacifiers, best swimming lessons and kid friendly (read: loudest) restaurants. Nope. I never used to wonder about those either.
But some of my interests have stayed exactly the same. Eerily, oddly, obsessively: The same. Read more…
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Jason and I met on-line in 1999. You know, WAY back when it was still gaspworthy and new to do so. We were long distance for about a year while he finished up school in Wisconsin and I was teaching and grad-schooling in California. Did I make you gasp again with the whole older woman thing? I’m a surprise a minute, people.
Living three-hour-flights away from each other meant that we put in A LOT of phone time. I think our record was a nine-hour marathon. True story.
At the end of each and every day we would curl up in sweats and cozy blankets and just…talk. We talked about politics, religion, gourmet food, sex, movies, art. Read more…
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This year I sent two children off to school, but I’m keeping one at home.
