There must be something in the air. Maybe it's the sudden return of the heat and humidity from the summer, maybe it's the constant rain, maybe people are just having a tough week. Yesterday I was crossing campus and passed two female students engaged in an all-out argument--name slinging, disparaging comments and everything. One of the girl's friends stood behind her, arms crossed, ready to jump into the verbal fray. [more]

Last week I gave my students a short piece to read about the role of school in their lives--not just the role of college, but the role of school in general. Had school served as a sanctuary to them? A place where they felt safe? Where they could flourish? I was curious, not just because I wanted to find out more about my students, but also because I'm a parent, and I love getting additional perspective on this whole school business. [more]

Back when L. was just a baby, Scott and I coined the word "tag-team parenting"--well, maybe we weren't the first to coin it, but we certainly felt like pioneers in that make-it-up-as-you-go territory. I distinctly remember the first time the phrase popped into my head. I had parked our old Dodge Grand Caravan at the Hardy's parking lot opposite the bus stop where the free university shuttle dropped off and picked up. I was nursing--or trying to nurse--an unhappy L. who was bundled into layers of onesies and a sweater (it was October and COLD). [more]

It felt like a LONG week last week--and I'm sure it felt even longer to L., and to T., who found herself alone for most of the day with her parents for an entire week. If truth be told, it also felt a little long for me, because while I love spending time with T., there are only so many hours of the day I can devote to playing ponies, or sick fairies, or tea party before I feel like locking myself in the bathroom for five minutes of me time. [more]

Scott often teases me that while I'm patient and sympathetic (to a fault sometimes) with animate things, whether they be people or animals or plants, I have little patience for inanimate objects. Maybe I take out my bottled up frustration with animate things on the inanimate objects in my life, who knows. But I do know that I can direct quite a bit of anger and resentment at things that don't breathe, or talk back, or have feelings--like my refrigerator, for instance. [more]