Lulu, Sometimes you think I won’t notice that you are attempting to wear high heel dress up shoes inside your snow boots. You are wrong. Just like you are wrong about rain being the tears of fairies and the saying “stick a noodle through your eye.” Sometimes I let you go ahead and be wrong because it is too adorable
Read moreDear Evan and Lulu, Two weeks ago I was uncharacteristically watching football when I saw a post-game interview with a jacked up, dread-locked, mouthy fellow by the name of Richard Sherman. Sherman caught my attention (and the attention of most the nation) because he was loud, proud, and ruthless. He played a vital role in winning the game to send
Read moreDear Lulu, Sometimes I feel bad that most of these posts are about your sister. I seem to relate to her more in a blog format. When I think about her my thoughts fall here. When I think about you my thoughts turn to books. Your grandiose sayings and defiant attitude make you the perfect subject of children’s book. Here
Read moreDear Evan and Lulu, This is my first birthday away from you. I’ve left for my birthday before but I at least got to spot your messy bed-hair before I left or kiss your tired faces when I got back. I’ve never spent my entire day away from you until today. I’m celebrating my 32nd year of life at a
Read moreDear Evan and Lulu, This weekend we were celebrating the birthday of a friend at a local indoor playground. The host parents gave the other parents the option of leaving for the 90 min party, then returning to pick you up, or staying for the duration of the festivities. I was the only parent who stayed. Part of that was
Read more*Technically I wrote this Saturday. But I needed to post THIS on Saturday, just getting around to posting this one. I went to the library today. Not in the way I go to the library every other day. Not to work 8+ hours, not to check things off a to-do list, and not even to visit fellow librarian friends. I
Read moreAm I a single parent? It is a question I’ve grappled with many times in my life, most recently when looking at my bio on this very blog where I have self described myself as a single mother. I don’t feel like a single parent. It is true that I’m not married and therefore by definition am I single? But
Read moreI’m not usually one for resolutions. I don’t think I’ve even attempted to make one since this one. But last night I was at my sister’s house playing cards and my brother-in-law was rehashing the conversation he has with my three year old nephew each morning before he is dropped off at daycare. It goes something like this. Don’t pull
Read moreDear Evan and Lulu, I never know how to reply when someone asks that question “how do you do it?” How do you work full time, go to graduate school, and raise two children. The long answers is complicated and involves so many important people. The short answer is easier to say but harder for some to understand. “We’re raising
Read moreDear Evan and Lulu, The best part of my job is going into classrooms and getting to be with children. It reminds me of how exciting it is to spend your days at school. The little things students look forward to: librarian visits, and the big things that they talk, think, and dream about for weeks in advance: readings of
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Chop Wood, Carry Water 