Really Listening and Nothing Else
Today I take my youngest on a 3 mile loop walk around the neighborhood. It’s a 45 minute walk, so I tell her that she’s going to have to tell me everything she’s thinking about. “What do you want to talk about? What have you been thinking about?” I’m listening. That’s all I’m doing on […]
A Super Cool and Easy Autumn Craft (Even I Loved It)
My youngest wants to collect acorns and decorate them. “With what?” I ask, remembering in horror the glitter and glue and shreds of various materials involved in that unknown territory called “Crafts.” “We’ll use all our nail polish!” “OK,” I say. This might not be such a bad idea. This might actually be a great […]
An Autumn Recipe You’ll Love: Butternut Squash and Hazelnut Lasagne
Two friends tell me that this recipe for Butternut Squash and Hazelnut Lasagne is their favorite to share, so I thought I’d try it. (I love epicurious.com for finding delicious recipes, so enjoy this website!) It’s expensive by the time you purchase the cheeses and the hazelnuts, but it served our family for two nights […]
Just Ask for the Story
I’m teaching my favorite kind of essay in class: rebuttal. I invite students to write essays to change our minds by arguing against one position in favor of another. It’s tricky. We talk all morning about changing the communication climate in order to connect and care for the opposition. The goal isn’t winning. The goal […]
A Victory for Mom
I have permission to share this story about my daughter: My daughter’s crying at the kitchen table because she doesn’t understand her algebra homework. Her math genius dad is traveling, so I’m all alone with this terrible algebra problem. I’m horrible at math. I’m missing math brain cells. Plus, I can’t remember how to do […]
A Recipe for Autumn Warmth
With October here, I bring out all the fall decorations. I place mums and pumpkins on the front porch. I swirl the leaf garlands on the tables. Then, I bring out a pot to simmer spices on the stove. The whole house smells of Autumn now (and I keep the kitchen humidified along the way). […]
A Throw Away Day
Today I remember that after exertion, one must recuperate. I’m listening to a new friend describe the way she recuperates after a day of activity. She’s still recovering from a serious illness, so she spends entire days regaining strength. She rests. She does nothing. Her health depends on these days. She calls them her “throw […]
“In Great Deeds, Something Abides”
I’m visiting Gettysburg, and no matter how many times I walk the battlefields, I’m always overcome with the extraordinary sacrifice of soldiers–then and now–who fight for freedom. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain’s words echo in my heart and mind as I walk. I remember his great speech at the dedication of the Maine Monument on October 3, […]
Perfect ‘Cause They’re Not Perfect
A couple from Texas–they know cowboy boots–comments on my own boots. “We love those boots!” they exclaim. The man leans over to look more closely to examine them and says, “They’re perfect because they’re not perfect. So many boots are too shiny and too fancy. Your boots are perfect.” I lean over to my friend […]
“The Hard is a Whole Lot Easier When You’re Living Your Dream”
Last night, I learn about the following conversation: A mother shares her concern over her daughter’s dream to run an orphanage in Haiti. “Why are you so concerned?” her friend asks. “Because it’s so hard there. Life will be so hard.” The friend looks at her directly and says, “Life is hard everywhere. But the […]