Dec 18, 2022December Isn’t DecemberingI Don’t Know About You, But This December Is Different — My boys are older. Not older, older, but not playing with toys anymore older. They’re video games, gadgets, and tablet kind of older. For the past few months, I asked them what they wanted for Christmas. Every time I asked, they just looked at me with blank stares. …Christmas3 min readChristmas3 min read
Published inThe Daily Cuppa·Oct 4, 2022I’ll do it later.I’ll do it later. Later becomes the next day. The next day arrives, and the notification appears. Dismiss or snooze are your options. It only takes a call, a meeting, an interruption to distract you. Your stomach growls. Time to eat. Time to clean the kitchen after you eat. You notice that the trash needs to go out. The dog needs to be taken out. As you walk out, there's your Amazon package! You place the package down and look around.Poetry1 min readPoetry1 min read
Jul 24, 2022Chasing Older Then Wishing We We YoungerWe’re Never Satisfied With Our Age — Years ago I was a Big for The Big Brothers and Sisters Program. While waiting for my Little to meet me near the school’s office, I noticed a teenager standing outside of a classroom with a teacher and two small boys. The teenager placed money in one of the boy's…Getting Older3 min readGetting Older3 min read
Jul 8, 2022You’re Not Allowed Coffee in the Library2551Álanna HammelNot having coffee while reading is blasphemy!Not having coffee while reading is blasphemy! While I understand that drinking coffee or anything in a libary is forbidden, it's just not right, lol. Drinking our favorite warm drink in our cup while reading - with the aroma of books filling the air, they're crazy!1 min read1 min read
Jun 23, 2022It Was A Big Mistake To Remove The Write and Edit Function From The Medium App99424Kristina GodDo you understand the horror I was going through writing, saving, emailing copies to myself until I…Do you understand the horror I was going through writing, saving, emailing copies to myself until I discovered Google Docs? Google Docs is my saving grace! I'm the writer on the go and in the bed. I loved going to the Medium app to add or edit commentary. There were so many days of being in my bed laying in the dark and then inspiration hit! I would grab my phone and write. Those days are gone. I hope that Medium brings this feature back, it was a cool feature that I really enjoyed. For now, Google Docs will receive all of my impromptu storytelling.1 min read1 min read
Jun 17, 2022Please Stop Saying, This Too Shall PassFamily and friends only want to help. They try to be as encouraging as possible and we’re thankful for that. However, when we’re going through something, we’re going through it. Please allow us to be in the moment, to process what we’re going through without soliciting scripture or affirmations. “Just…Advice And Opinion3 min readAdvice And Opinion3 min read
Jun 3, 2022For so many children teachers are a saving grace, an escape from home.For so many children teachers are a saving grace, an escape from home. There are so many special moments that I spent with my students that were so everlasting, we keep in touch almost 17 years later. I left the profession after five years. …2 min read2 min read
May 26, 2022That Friendly FaceWhen Public Speakers Can’t Stop Looking At You — I’m respectful when people are talking. I give eye contact. I nod to reassure them that I’m present. I smile, squint my eyebrows, and make all sorts of reactionary faces. If you’re talking to me, just know that I am there. I’m listening. I’m engaged. Because of this, my daily…Life Lessons5 min readLife Lessons5 min read
Mar 27, 2022When Unsolicited Advice Ends A FriendshipMaybe He Was Her Knight & Shining Armor — Look, I’m only going by what she told me about this dude. Initially, I was supportive. He seemed very attentive and checked off many must-haves from her list. She gushed over him, providing all the details that girlfriends love to hear. He was smart, attentive, thoughtful, loved his family, and…Unsolicited Advice4 min readUnsolicited Advice4 min read
Feb 27, 2022Too Big For The Play AreaThe Tween Conundrum A few years ago, I was at the park with my boys awaiting their turn for the swings. There were two boys and one girl probably around the ages of 9–11. They were smiling at each other as they thrusted themselves higher. We patiently waited, but after a while I…Parenting4 min readParenting4 min read