Category: work

Making lists and walking on water

I hate making lists almost as much as I hate math. Seriously. I will do anything to keep from having to enumerate life. My brain thinks freedom is found in being untethered, in lyric and cadence but never …

The stories we tell on this day …

This day. It appears on the calendar out of the sweltering blue of summer and amidst the slow push into fall, breaking the patterned chaos with its remembering. Those crystal clear details of 18 years ago; how the room …

So many words. So much power.

“She’s probably the loudest teacher I’ve ever met. She uses so many words. And she never stands still. We all think she’s crazy. Her name’s Mrs. Sain. You’ll see when you meet her. Don’t put your head down …

On taking a break

How many of you are good at taking breaks? I’m convinced that my teenagers are pros at it! But, me? Well, I am terrible. I can plow through the work in front of me for hours on end without ever stopping …

One to grow on — a look back at 2018

“Turn your head! Yes, your entire head! Do not trust your mirrors! Always look behind you before you move over!” I’ve said these words a thousand times this year as we’ve worked to grow our oldest teenager into …

Looking for a way around the hard work?

“What did the Minutemen do and which goods were taxed by the Stamp Act?” I am doing my best to be patient. But. Fourth-grade homework isn’t for the faint of heart. My little guy turns himself sideways and …

What do you want to be when you grow up?

An NBA player. That’s how my big boys answered the “what I want to be when I grow up” question for years. And the little one is still holding fast to his pro football dreams. So we should …

How Yes and No stack up to build our lives

Yes? No? Maybe? Every year I struggle with these words. Every. Year. And it isn’t like I don’t see it coming. As soon as we trade the sand and the sun of summer for the backpacks and pencils of …

How to stop being the holder of all the things

In our family, I have a very special and coveted title. I am the holder of all the things: the discarded sweatshirts, the muddy shoes, the unneeded hats, the random rocks, precious leaves, pre-chewed gum, tiny little reward stars, water bottles, tissues, backpacks. There …

Why I need a word for this New Year

2016 is down to its last few hours. And some folks are quite happy about this, according to my Facebook newsfeed. The death, destruction and chaos that have dominated the news cycles lately seem to have everyone running headlong into 2017 with the …