I had planned on blogging about something else this week. But then a conversation with one of the teenagers brought this phrase to mind: “Some teachers are bad.” Of course, when I think of that phrase, I hear it (in my head) in Cate Blanchett’s voice from Hanna – just…
In a continuing effort to stop censoring myself, I’m about to go on a rant of sorts. So, before I do that, I feel the need to offer a disclaimer and toot my own horn a bit. Disclaimer/Own-Horn-Tooting: I love teaching. I really do. I wouldn’t keep accepting course assignments…
As a writing teacher, it’s probably sacrilege for me to say I’ve got to stop thinking about audience. After all, I teach my students that they must consider audience when they’re working on writing projects; it’s one of the “big 3” of rhetorical context: topic, purpose, and audience. An imagined…
Author’s note: I wrote the following essay as a part of a class I’m taking on feedback and assessment in online writing courses. However, I decided to share it here on the blog since many of my readers are writers and/or teachers. Enjoy! A team of distinguished writing professors and…
I had intended on blogging this week about our Captain Marvel viewing from the weekend. But then yesterday happened. Even though I’m an adjunct rather than full-time faculty, there’s this annual teaching/writing conference that I like to go to, whenever I can get grant money to cover my registration, that…
If you remember that song, sorry for the earworm. If you aren’t familiar with it, well here you go: But, honestly, it’s a bit of a red herring. This post should probably really be called Things That Make Me Go GRRR, 😠, or 😤. Or Things That Make Me Wish…
#iwillpunchthefirstpersonwhosaysillmissthis “I will punch the first person who says I’ll miss this.†I saw that hashtag on a Facebook post yesterday and literally laughed out loud. The poster, you may have guessed, was a mom at her wit’s end. She’d taken to Facebook to vent about what we all face…
I’ve been really struggling this week with what to post. Basically, I’m censoring myself because a lot of what I want to talk about isn’t pretty. I’m talking toxic people, unsettling world events, and other such depressing stuff. So, until I have something more cheerful to share or am ready…
#nofilter I’m sure you’ve seen this hashtag, right? It’s commonly used on social media, accompanying what the poster is claiming to be an untouched, unedited photograph. Sometimes the photo is of a beautiful sunset, or of someone being him/herself. I don’t know for sure – and didn’t even try to…
This past Sunday I was talking to a friend at church. It started out as a normal conversation about the funny things our kids do/say and how we know we’re so blessed but we’re also so tired. I have this thing I do, without realizing at the time that I’m…
If you’re even a semi-regular follower of this not-so-regular blog, then you know that I published a book a few years back. That book offered 5 rules, in a bit of a tongue-and-cheek sort of way, for being a good mom. The 5 rules: Rule #1: Don’t beat yourself up…
It’s fun, easy, and doesn’t require any special supplies – seriously, just grab some paper, a pen/pencil, and any old envelope. Stash that envelope in a safe place (and one you’ll remember later). Then wait for the hilarity to ensue. On December 31, 2013, we’d been in the car for…
Thanks to everyone who participated in the Book Birthday 2018 Swag Bag Giveaway celebrating the 1st birthday (or 1-year anniversary of the publication of my book, How to Be a Good Mom (Or at Least Not an Epic Failure). The winner, selected at random through Rafflecopter, is … a Rafflecopter…
♩ Happy Birthday ♩ It’s my birthday month! Well, my book’s birthday (i.e., anniversary of its publication). And I want to give YOU a present! How to Be a Good Mom (Or at Least Not an Epic Failure) was published on June 16, 2017. I know I talk about this book…
My very-first-ever reader survey ended last week, and I’m so thankful to each and every one of you who participated! Conducting a reader survey was a new idea to me, though definitely one of those “why didn’t I think of this before” type of new ideas. Here’s what I learned…
