A year or more ago my dad died. I have been known to describe him as a cross between Clint Eastwood and the character Don Draper from Mad Men. As his youngest and only daughter, that is who he was to me. Equal parts badass, control freak, brilliant in his work and emotionally unavailable. I…
Category: children
When the whole family leaves and I am alone.
Up until the night they leave, the thought of them leaving is delicious. I imagine all the things I will do. I will shampoo the carpets! I will redo a bedroom! I will throw pots until my fingers are useless! I will finish that mural! And then they leave and it’s different. A vacuum void…
An open letter to my neighbor who won’t let their kids play with my 11-year old daughter since I put a tiny pride flag in my yard
Dear Brittany and Brad; Since you moved in and in catching up with you while you walked Winston, I have enjoyed getting to know you. I have enjoyed petting Winston and just lingering in conversation unhurriedly. Pulling weeds and talking to neighbors ranks highly for me. I remember my first conversation with Brittany when you…
Night
I love the morning. When I see her, I love her. But…
I did a thing: children’s books for bilingual and migrant education
This is a project I did for a class. I am sharing it because I got lots of positive feedback on it, which is nice and encouraging. In this video, I recommend and give a sneak peak to some books K-12 that are good for language learners, migrant students, bilingual environments and culture studies. …
When you met me, and I was not at my best
Dismay I might have spoken too fast. I might have taken rabbit trails on my train of thought. I might have had water coming from my eyes for no apparent reason. I might have seemed anxious. And awkward I was. Because I needed. Too much. At that time. Because behind my face all of the…
Conversations I never wanted to have (but it might be good I did)
We were told to love our neighbor. So…these are my marching orders. I never saw where it said that I was supposed to decide whose sins were bigger or more unpardonable.
When our community disintegrated, part 1
The “Welcome!” sign out front was not outwardly qualified.
Dual Language Immersion done correctly answers real questions about 21st century education.
It doesn’t take an extensive literature review or an exhaustive tour of programs to see that dual language immersion programs exponentially improve educational outcomes when implemented correctly… So why doesn’t every district in the nation turn to dual language immersion? Why doesn’t every University have a rich Middle Eastern Studies department? One could get the wrong idea.
the story
because perhaps i have been here so long, the story can’t be told without the pictures. and because i have been here for so long, there are so, so many pictures. some so old, you may have seen them before. but regardless, they tell the story of lives. firsts. and of blessing granted. pictures…
August
August is a beautiful time of the year. The rest of the calendar waits for August. Like honey it arrives so slowly, and lasts never quite long enough… but while August is here the indulgences that might have to be stolen the rest of the year are welcome, right and timely. The ice cream outing…
Graduating.
Traveler, there is no road.
Make the road by going.
By going, you make the way
ChezWhat? 