Part of Slice of Life by Two Writing Teachers March Slice a Day Challenge! I’m slicing
Road trip
with kids
And the dog.
Only 340 miles to go.
Until we unpack the van
In the middle of the night.
That’s always fun.
Only 338 miles
Of singing and fighting and
Car snacks and
A dull car-sick headache.
Only 336 miles until
Reality hits
Messy house
Schools closed for corona
Thankful we already bought toilet paper last week, so-
It’s ok
That the stores are empty.
Part of Slice of Life by Two Writing Teacher
My Tuesdays are full of meetings, usually with 10 minutes in between. Today, I went to my room between meetings, plugged in my laptop, added a few yellow sunbursts to my “sunny days ahead” sign, and munched an apple while I took a picture of my new motivational sign.
I leaned against my counter for a minute, feeling guilty for not getting something from my to-do list done. I mean, that’s hard to do in 5-minute intervals, but not impossible.
I looked down at my laptop, and thought, “Well, at least I got my laptop a little recharged for the next meeting.”
Only then did it occur to me that maybe my minute of coloring and minute of apple crunching was my recharge. I mean, if my laptop deserves a recharge, maybe I do too?
Is this what they call self-care?
I took another picture of myself to remember that today, I did indeed have 5 minutes of self-care.
Part 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!
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."
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
Part of Slice of Life by Two Writing Teachers
I really had to pee, but I knew I’d be home soon so I didn’t run into my friend’s house when I dropped her off.
“Is this going to be a problem?” I asked myself as I drove home. I had been gone for 2 days, so sometimes it’s hard to run right in and go straight for the bathroom. But, my kids are older now, and I knew they’d understand.
I pulled into the garage, grabbed my bags as quickly as I could, and wondered why the dog wasn’t at the window wagging his tail.
As soon as I walked in the house, I noticed something was wrong. The lights were low, the dog didn’t greet me at the door – he was harnessed and held.
Then the music started, and the kids began their Harry Potter performance.
It was a very intricate performance.
It depicted all 7 books.
There were letters floating in the fireplace, fake smoke, wands, a broom, Quidditch, a Hogwarts Express Trolly stocked with actual candy, and even Voldemort. There were individual candles crafted with tubes, hot glue, and paint. There was even a Deathly Hallows garland strung on the fireplace. A Deathly Hallows garland!
I watched the whole thing. I clapped, I hugged. I admired the hard work.
And then, I ran to the bathroom.
I am participating in the March Slice of Life Challenge: A slice a day for all of March. You should do it too! Thank you, Two Writing Teachers! Readers, check out their site, and start slicing!
Distractions. I have written, deleted, and been interrupted more in the last 2 hours than I can possibly describe. Someone needs a snack, someone wants to play a game, someone wants to go back on the beach to look for rocks. Someone has a story to tell me. Someone wants to know when I will be done, when I will make dinner, when I will play a game, can we watch a movie? If I had any ability to concentrate I’d tell you in more detail. I’m sure it would make a heartwarming, humorous tale. Vacations with 3 kids always do. Right?
It feels like I’ve been sitting here forever trying to write. I sat listening to the ocean, watching the waves through the deck doors.
I thought I might try a list poem: vacation or trip?/shells/rocks/interruptions/cold breeze/waves crash. . . .But, it wasn’t just my family distracting me… I was distracted by the shadow of a song being played in the back of my mind. What is that song? A squeaky guitar, almost spoken word singing a kind of list? It was on a mixtape. I ask my mixtape high school friends, I google all sorts of search words. No success. Shouldn’t my brain work better than this?
I won’t write a list poem today. I may never find out what that song was. But, I will make dinner, do the dishes, look at new shell collections, play a game, find a family movie, and put kids to bed.
Ahhhh. Vacation.
I am participating in the March Slice of Life Challenge: A slice a day for all of March. You should do it too! Thank you, Two Writing Teachers! Readers, check out their site, and start slicing!
All in a day: the beach (6 word memoir slices of vacation) sunrise coffee with chilly beach view fresh doughnuts eaten before seagulls land comfort sad children on sound walkway watch kids play, find free library browse beach tchotchkes but don't buy restaurant's first ever "Is sauce vegetarian?" get bunches of "Thank you ma'ams" bundle up, sit on beach, read bundle up, sit on deck, write
Part of Slice of Life by Two Writing Teachers
I’m not always nice.
I think maybe I used to be nicer.
There’s this lady down the street
She has a “Love everyone” sign in her yard
But she was so mean to my baby last year.
and when I see her around, I yell at her
in my head
“Love everyone? What about a little kid trying to make his way in this world?”
But on my face, I smile.
Yesterday I saw her running by me in the park
and I’m waiting for my reward since
I did not stick out my foot
and trip her.
I’m not always nice.
I think maybe I used to be nicer.
I went on a walk with my puppy
who pulls and tugs, tail wagging to greet
every
person
he
sees
and when a young college student grimaced and hid in her boyfriend’s arms,
I raised my eyebrows and said,
“He’s just a baby”
In a sarcastic, condescending tone –
Even though I totally get why she was worried
I’m not always nice.
I think maybe I used to be nicer.
So happy to Celebrate with Ruth Ayres this weekend!
Some weeks are harder to celebrate.
I followed a new person on twitter, and when I went to her page, balloons started floating through my screen. I was a little surprised. Was twitter just so excited that I was following someone? (It was actually just her birthday, but whatever.)
Inspired by the balloons this morning, I decided to try to see the celebration — where could balloons float around here? I was trying to, but man it was hard! As I tried to edit some writing, boys were scream-playing, L was watching loud instagram videos, and Mr. Thought was editing his video in the next room.
“Ahhh the sounds of a busy family,” I told myself as I took a deep breath, trying to see the balloons.
I asked the kids to have a simple breakfast of a bowl of cereal, but that was a no go.
“So thankful we have food in our fridge,” I reminded myself as I helped E make some breakfast on the stove. Where are those balloons?
I asked the kids to start emptying the dishwasher. I asked the kids to start emptying the dishwasher. I asked the kids to start emptying the dishwasher. I asked the kids to start emptying the dishwasher. I asked the kids to start emptying the dishwasher. I asked the kids to start emptying the dishwasher.
“Strong willed, busy children are a blessing.” My fake smile probably scared off any celebratory balloons.
I started to read my math homework… watched a couple of cute instagram videos that L was desperate for me to see, listened to multiple people singing, humming, and making dumb jokes. I took a deep breath, tried to focus. I couldn’t find a pencil to use to talk to my math text, and E was drumming a beat on the table. No balloons.
“Maybe I shouldn’t write a celebration post today,” I decided. Because really, some weeks, some days, some times…
But, then I laughed. A pencil! I found a pencil, well half a pencil — and it really felt like a celebration.
So I wrote this, and somehow, by some miracle, I hear the children emptying the dishwasher in the kitchen.
I haven’t done Poetry Friday before
Maybe I’m worried I’ll run out of words
Although, have a little chat with me
And you’ll quickly see
how impossible that would be
Just breathe, I remind myself, just listen
Close your mouth, no one needs your opinion unbidden!
I’m used to speaking out
letting words just spout
before my thoughts have a chance to reroute
But I’m learning action starts with reaction
I’m not an expert, I just have passion
And so much more I want learn
I have thoughts I need to overturn
also a pile of decisions to discern
So this is my #whyIwrite I guess
A place for my brain to confess
I’m sure I’ve done it wrong, it’s true
But I’ll toss in this poem, my big debut
Be nice to me, I am new
Thanks for the Poetry Friday Link Up, Friendly Fairy Tales!
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