A while back, I had a chat with a mother friend of mine who is a bit older and wiser than I am. She shared with me that when her kids were growing up, she always had felt she was a bad mother. She had a daughter that she would constantly butt heads with and …
While eating lunch with a friend the other day, the topic of spring cleaning and yard work came up in conversation. I listened as she told me all the chores she had accomplished outside over the weekend, silently creating for myself a to-do list that might start to scratch the surface of jobs badly needing …
My mother and I were talking on the phone last night, and I moved from room to room doing my “end-of-the-evening” tidy up. As it was time for my son’s bedtime, I went in to his room to say goodnight and tuck him in, all while I had the phone neatly perched in between my …
I am sitting in a meeting, and the presenters have begun to speak. The topic, one chosen for its pertinence to all in attendance, should be enough to captivate the audience and compel the listening group to lend an ear attentively. We are being financially paid, by the way, to pay attention. One quick glance …
I am sitting on the blue rug in my classroom with three little boys. Guilty, they wait for the final verdict from me and if they are lucky, a pardon. I look at one, and ask the question, “Why did you push Little Girl on the playground?” Pause. I can see the wheels turning in …
I have been thinking about things today. Deep things. I feel a little blue, so forgive me for the shadow this might cast on this essay. But permit me to say that I sometimes feel caught up in extenuating circumstances, over which I have no control, and these self-same circumstances can sometimes be enough to …
There is a book sitting on the bench in my upstairs hallway that I plan to read a little before shutting my eyes tonight, that is if I can get up to bed earlier than my usual 12:30 a.m. Written by author Tim Kimmel, it is called In Praise of Plan B- Moving from “What …
As the children have started swimming lessons, we now are the proud card holders of a two-month membership at the local Rodd Mill River Resort Aquaplex and Squash Courts. We have the card for two months, and I plan on making the aquaplex our second home. The kids commented today, while we were home eating …
This past week, I read a note from a friend in which she stated she would not be allowing two former classmates from university access to her group of friends on Facebook due to the grief these girls had caused her in university. She actually posted this note as her Facebook status, thus publicly denying …
I use to live for a night out. I say live for, but if that were really true, I’d be dead by now. I don’t get out much. I can faintly remember a time in my life where Friday night was associated with socializing and getting out of the house. I won’t say what other …
My youngest has turned around in her chair so that she can see me as I prepare my cup of coffee. She was the last to finish supper, and as her good fortune would have it, she is the only one to have an ice cream cone for dessert. Four kids. One cone. It is …
I have a day out of the classroom today (assessment meetings-JOY!), courtesy of the Western School Board for which I am employed. I feel almost giddy as I leisurely get myself ready and line my ducks up in a row for the day. Everything is taking longer this morning, and I feel so GENEROUS with …