Tag: writing
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July: The Sunday of Summer for Teachers
Ah, July. That magical midpoint in the rollercoaster we call “summer break.” For teachers, it’s a weird, wonderful month. One part recovery, one part denial, one part wondering what kind of “summer mom” are you going to be, one part creeping sense of responsibility that keeps whispering, “You should probably open that email.” But for…
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Thirty-Nine Is Coming In Hot …
Looking Back, Leaning Forward So here I am… on the edge of 39. Not quite 40. Not really clinging to 30. Just kind of floating in that limbo where you still say things like “back in the day” and forget you are the day. Turning 39 is weird. It’s like being the last page of…
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What’s Love Got To Do With It?
I Found My Husband at 30—and It Was Right on Time I didn’t meet my husband in high school. Or college. Or at some magical post-grad event where everyone’s drinks matched their personalities and their futures were perfectly mapped out. Nope. I found him at 30. Right at the moment I stopped frantically searching and…
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Life in the Shell: What Rowing Taught Me About Grit, Grace, and Teamwork
Not many people grow up saying, “I want to be a rower.” It’s not exactly a mainstream sport—there are no Friday night lights, no bleachers full of fans, no highlight reels playing on ESPN. But those of us who’ve done it? We know it’s one of the toughest, most unique, and strangely beautiful sports out…
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From Lake Effect to Skyline Chili
Growing Up in Erie, PA…..because it’s okay to love Erie I’m 38 now, living in Cincinnati with three kids, a career, and a to-do list that never ends. But every once in a while—usually when it snows or I smell lake water or overhear people talk about their love and obsession with Skyline Chili (in…
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The Last Little Love: Raising Our Youngest Boy
They say you just know when it’s your last baby. And they’re right. There’s something different about the way you soak in the little things—sticky cheeks, sleepy snuggles, the way they mispronounce “pajamas.” When you know they’re your last, everything feels softer. Slower. Sweeter. Our youngest, at two and a half, is the final piece…
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In the Middle of the Mayhem
Raising My 5-Year-Old Boy They say the middle child is the peacemaker, the overlooked one, the quiet soul just trying to find their place. Whoever they are… they’ve never met my 5-year-old. My middle child is anything but overlooked. He’s a whirlwind wrapped in a superhero cape, a ball of motion powered by Hot Wheels…
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Firstborn Firecracker
Raising My 7-Year-Old Girl in a House Full of Boys When people hear I have three kids, their first reaction is usually, “Wow, you must be busy!” And they’re right. But what they don’t always realize is that the dynamic between my firstborn daughter and her two little brothers is its own beautiful brand of…
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Before the Bell and the Babies:
A First-Year Teacher’s Tale Let me take you back to a time before diaper bags, dinner duty, and digital calendars filled with swim lessons and pediatrician appointments. It’s me. First-year teacher me. Twenty-something, bright-eyed and… wildly underprepared for what teaching middle school actually meant. I walked into my first classroom with color-coded folders, inspirational posters…
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Weekends At Home
“Weekends at Home: Where the Chaos Is Loud and the Coffee Is Strong“ Welcome to my weekend. Population: one frazzled mom, one sassy 7-year-old girl, one endlessly energetic 5-year-old boy, and one very opinionated 2-year-old toddler with a mission to destroy everything in his path. It’s Saturday morning. I wake up to the gentle sound…
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Coffee ☕️ Crayons 🖍️ and Curriculum 📝 