Deep Thoughts

I’m officially on Spring Break. It’s a relief to know that I’ll have two weeks at home with my children–a three year old and an eight month old. Parenthood is grueling, but it’s the best kind of grueling there is because it’s yours. Somehow I find the superhuman strength to do things I never thought…

Sometimes I ask my three-year-old daughter to tell me a story and I take dictation. It’s truly one of my favorite early literacy activities because I love the way young children speak. Their language is so poetic and they have a wonderful, free-flowing, unselfconscious way with words and ideas. This is a story she told…

Some days make me want to live in a coastal town in Maine. Or better yet, a tiny island off the coast of Maine. Or better still, a tiny island off the coast of almost anywhere else but where I am. When I’m sitting in traffic approaching the Lincoln Tunnel–only a couple of miles away…

For anyone who has small children, big children, no children, or who has ever once been a child, you know that daylight savings time is a recipe for disaster. It’s only an hour, but it might as well be a transatlantic flight in which the same terrible movie plays on a loop. Daytime sleep routines–otherwise…

Have you ever been kissed by a baby? I have. And it’s wonderful. It’s like a little open mouthed guppy Trying to suction themselves onto the side of your face. What could be better? But seriously. Nothing is better than a baby kiss. I know because my baby kissed me tonight. As she gazed into…

What did the zero say to the eight? “Nice belt!” Why was six afraid of seven? “Because seven eight nine.” Knock Knock. Who’s there? Banana. Banana who? Knock Knock. Who’s there? Banana. Banana who? Knock Knock. Who’s there? Orange. Orange who? Orange you glad I didn’t say banana?

I made a kid cry today. It wasn’t the first time And it certainly won’t be the last. It was time to clean up From arrival activities. And I didn’t realize He wanted to save his work on the saving shelf As kids do To finish at a later time. So I dumped the whole…

For the third year in a row, I had my kindergarten students make their own tap shoes today. It’s for our World Course study on feelings and self-expression. The kids are learning about different art forms including music and dance, storytelling and drama, and art and photography. To my mind, tap dancing is perfect for…

The laundry is piled up so high That I cannot see the floor. Luckily, it’s clean. But what use is clean laundry When you cannot find what you need? Where is my pumping bra? Where are my cozy pants? I must search and search. I need them desperately. Now the laundry is like a colony…