Monthly Archives: April 2019

A slice of One of Those Days

Family, Slice of Life

Slice of LIfePart of Slice of Life by Two Writing Teachers

 

It's one of those days
That kind of a day

Somehow 
you don't have too much homework
you don't have to drive people too many places
Somehow
you let yourself plan
sitting on the porch, listening to the rain, reading
(This is where you are 
allowed to laugh at me) 

It's one of those days
That kind of a day

Home from work
you find
2 kids making vegan chocolate eggs, cadbury style 
the counter is a chocolate-smelling disaster
so you pause 
and just smile

It's one of those days
That kind of day

Finnegan cries, he wants to go out
He sniffs for a minute but then he wants in
He's a lab mix who is scared of the rain
so he whines to go in
He whines 
to 
go
in

It's one of those days
That kind of day

Sitting on the porch, 
2 plates of vegan chocolate are served
You need to try each kind, so you can vote 
Which looks better?
Which tastes better?
Which chocolate ratio is best?
Which has the best texture?

It's one of those days
That kind of day

One child didn't want to make chocolate eggs
but chocolate chip muffins
and now the chocolate chips are gone
"I'm late" 
"I'm late to make muffins!" He says
and your heart breaks to hear that someone is
late
to 
make
muffins

It's one of those days
That kind of day

You remake chocolate chips
with leftover melted chocolate chips
spreading chocolate on the 
one small piece 
of parchment paper left
hoping it is 3/4 cup
and adding a chopped up vegan chocolate bunny 
to round it out

It's one of those days
That kind of a day

After the lame dinner
of pizza toast and salad
you are served another treat
the chocolate chip muffins are done! 
A+ muffins
Enough treats for days
Enough dishes for days too
(No sugar tomorrow!)

It's one of those days
That kind of a day

Your mini-baker adds the recipe
to the new family recipe book
and you watch him add 
notes 
highlights
and your heart melts more than that chocolate
to see his third-grade writing
that will one day maybe be read by his third-grade kid

It's one of those days
That kind of a day

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A slice of 2 PSSA pantoums of course!

Family, poetry, Reflections on teaching, Slice of Life, Uncategorized

Slice of LIfePart of Slice of Life by Two Writing Teachers

I saw this “Anatomy of a Pantoum” on instagram today, posted by @beabetterwriter. So, I did some more reading about the form. I guess it used to be a rhyming poem, and now not so much. So I thought I’d try both kinds… no rhyme, and a rhyme…. Because it’s April, and it was the first day of the PSSAs, the first time any of my own children have taken the test. I’m fairly sure I’m not doing this totally correctly… but hey! I’m trying! 

IMG_1492Screen Shot 2019-04-16 at 10.41.17 PM.png

I don't think it's good for kids
a pantoum without rhyme 

One might be doing it to fit in
One might be doing it for the bubble gum
I'm not sure why I didn't just opt them out
But my kids took their first PSSA today

One might be doing it for the bubble gum
That's what motivates some through
But my kids took their first PSSA today
And by all accounts, it's fine

That's what motivates some through
For 4 more days they'll test 
And by all accounts, it's fine
I don't think it's good for kids 

For 4 more days they'll test
I'm not sure why I didn't just opt them out
I don't think it's good for kids 
One might be doing it to fit in


Cop out on the Opt Out
a pantoum with rhyme 

"I hope I get my teacher a good score"
You knew then you had copped out 
Because this was the very first time your
PSSA-hating self hadn't signed the opt out. 

You knew then you had copped out. 
Pressured from some unseen place, 
Tired of the invisible testing walkout
You can't beat it, so I guess you just embraced? 

Pressured from some unseen place
Your kids are annoyed with this task
Thinking the rules are stupid in this case
"Why no watches or snacks?" They ask.

Your kids are annoyed with this task
You knew then you had copped out 
You put on your happy mom mask:
"You can do it! I have no doubt."

A Slice of A Saturday in your early 40s

poetry, Slice of Life

Slice of LIfePart of Slice of Life by Two Writing Teachers


A Saturday in your early 40s. 
before these
there were stories
of Saturdays in your early 30s
with all your baby, toddler, preschool worries

Now you have older kids
and a Migraine
you just wake with it -
must be the pressure - barometric 
finally give in take some excedrin 
and then you live again 

Barnes & Noble
buying books time
but you also buy slime, 
expensive chocolate mousse and a blondie at snack time
and, admit it, a coconut milk vanilla latte - that's sublime

Overhear: 
someone asking about Wishtree - 
"Is that in the Magic treehouse series?" (Nope)
What is it about that desperate need 
to tell a stranger that the book in their hand
is one they should read?

Rush home so you can take the almost 16-ager
secondhand clothes shopping 
where you hold her t-shirts and jeans,
calmly trying to explain: 
"Yes, the line is long but even if they are only $16, you should definitely try them on."

These are some of the stories
of a Saturday in your early forties

It’s just a moment

Family, poetry, Uncategorized

 

The boy is maybe 2
he reaches for his dad’s hand
(I assume it’s his dad
but that’s not the point)

He’s maybe 2
they’re on a walk
and he reaches for his dad’s hand
it’s just a moment

I drive by
back from a quick dinner drop off
because my kids aren’t 2
they are 16, and 12 and 9

I have pictures
of my kids when they were maybe 2
walking with their dad
(It’s definitely their dad)

But you can’t climb
into pictures
and hold hands
with your 2 year old

So I’m adding this
to my list
of stuff
I sometimes cry about

Mama Bear Slam Poem Slice

Family, Reflections on coaching, Reflections on teaching, Slice of Life

Slice of LIfePart of Slice of Life by Two Writing Teachers

 

Mama Bear Slam Poem

My question for you is about 
empathy
and if you're ever left 
wondering 
if it's possibly 
tiring
to be a child with the 
tendency
to teach adults about the 
possibility 
of differences being 
necessary?

I strive to teach my kids empathy, compassion, truth. 

I think I've done my due 
diligence
as one of two respectful, kind 
parents
in teaching my kid not to look for 
vengeance
not to give in to 
vindictiveness
to take all the varied 
consequences 
even when they are ridiculous or 
limitless. 

I strive to teach my kids empathy, compassion, truth. 

Listen up, people! I can't, I can't I can't
I can't 
So I'm letting Mama Bear take 
command
She's ready to tackle the problem 
at hand
She doesn't stand on ceremony, you 
understand. 
She has a strong voice and one 
demand
She knows her kid - will take a 
chance. 

I strive to teach my kids empathy, compassion, truth. 

Because, I'll tell you what's 
nonsensical. 
I'll give you a general
hypothetical 
Kid asked to take the high road, be 
impeccable
While adults judge from down low, it's 
disrespectful 
If you didn't know your impact, that's 
defensible
But now you know, so it's 
reprehensible. 

I strive to teach my kids empathy, compassion, truth. 

I hope you don't feel
attacked
I know kindness isn't in your
contract
But I don't want my kid having 
flashbacks
to this kind of negative 
impact.
Time to decide how to snap
back.
Maybe apologize - it's time to 
act.

I strive to teach my kids empathy, compassion, truth. 
Am I in charge of teaching you too?