35 was bipolar. I love my job but some weeks I'm ready to quit teaching. I'm heartbroken by the lack of equity and justice in society and find hope in our youth & my community. I've focused on going with the flow while becoming more invested in vegetarianism, environmentalism and politics - none of which … Continue reading It’s My Birthday. Pick a Challenge.
The thought of pregnancy, carrying my own child, giving birth and breastfeeding simultaneously gives me chills and brings the kind of tears that form unexpectedly. Physically speaking, I can't imagine the burden of dependence while suffering the loss of independence. The mere thought of leaving my career to become a full-time, at-home mom terrifies me; I … Continue reading Two Badass Moms
Rumor has it that when my husband, Justin, told his mom we were dating one of the first things she asked was if I went camping. Like pee in the woods camping. Luckily, his answer was yes, which I suspect gave me a leg up when I met her a few weeks later. I remember … Continue reading Make-It-Work Kinda Woman; Remebering Chris Today & Always
Teacher or whatever, our struggle is real. We're busy, overextended, tired, sick of the rain (right, Washington!?), and dreaming about downtime that we're unlikely to create for ourselves. This week, just in time for St. Patrick's Day, I came to the realization that my cynical Irish nature prevents me from being the best teacher and … Continue reading 5 Reasons Why the [Education] Struggle is Real & It’s My Fault
Complimenting children can be the ultimate parent trap. It's natural to praise children based on their success and general cuteness, but that praise can causes them to internalize success as a need for perfection. It's hard to keep personality based praise at bay, especially when we're their parents and we love (almost) everything about their … Continue reading Only Because You Tried Hard
Deal with it. Over the past month I've run across editorials and social media posts that urge Americans to just "deal" with the presidency now that the election is over because "there's nothing 'you' can do about it." As a teacher, I can't. Schools are like tiny representations of the broader community. They have officials … Continue reading Teacher Can’t “Deal” with Fear-Based Policy
One of my 2016 goals was to start a blog. I have a lot to say and I keep being told I need to write a book. But, baby steps. I have to confess, Fail and Shine has been sitting blank for four months. Back in November, I did my research, and like most internet … Continue reading Ripping the Bandaid Off
We chose adoption for many reasons, including a few selfish ones: we didn't want to make the sacrifices a baby deserves; we love our active lifestyle; and finally, our work in Nepal affirmed that love is a choice - not a biological connection. As we tell P, "We wished for a boy just like you." … Continue reading Adoptaversary*
