It's been more than 20 years since my family lived in Washington state. But if you were to ask my mother when she was the happiest, it was probably then. There, she had her "dream" house. Her children still needed her for their day to day survival, her health was better and she was surrounded by the mountains and trees she loved ( Read more... )

Each time I return to Washington, I drive by my childhood home. In my mind's eye, I see it as it once was: new, clean, safe, surrounded by trees and bushes my parents spent hours planting ( Read more... )

It seems that wherever kids are and fun is to be had, there is a constant cry of "five more minutes"! Five more minutes in the pool, five more minutes watching television, five more minutes to play the video game ( Read more... )

I don't do well with sudden change. If someone is visiting, I usually know when they are leaving and mentally prepare for that final good-bye long before it ever really happens. To have someone leave my life suddenly, and without closure, is extremely difficult ( Read more... )

As is usually the case each year, I find myself struggling with effective ways to motivate my students for change. Many of them have dreams they have the potential to fulfill, but few have realized they hold this power. As an outsider looking in, I can see more promise than they can imagine, and helping them to see this same vision, is a challenge ( Read more... )

This has been one of the most difficult weeks of my life. It seems like every time I have turned around, there has been a new life lesson waiting for me. I am one for growth, but I have to say, I think I'm tired of growing for a while ( Read more... )

As a teacher, it is my job to see the good in everyone, to find potential under the surface of apathy and aggressively fight for my students to see within them, what I already do. Over the course of my career, I have had many success stories: the student who never wanted to go to college but is now completing a Ph.D. in Biochemistry, the student ( Read more... )

The end of the school year always marks a period of mourning for me. After ten years in the classroom, you'd think I was used to losing my kids after nine months of intense bonding, but I'm not. Because I do not have children of my own, my students are my children. I have prayed over them, cried over them, rejoiced with them and nurtured them ( Read more... )