“I’m just gonna ride him, ‘cause that’s what I do.” That’s what a father of one of the boys on my son’s team said to me. About the fifteenth insult he hurled onto the field, I found myself gritting my teeth. Around the twentieth slur, I had a flashback of the time I accidently spilled my ice water on a … Read More
Taking Stock of Bullying, It’s Much More Than a Facebook Issue
At the beginning of the school year, the students at our local high school spent a week of assemblies, presentations, and discussions, all on bullying. The hallways are plastered with pledge signs and anti-bullying campaign pieces. Earlier this year, my daughter was involved in a situation where classmates were talking poorly about her on Facebook because she had unfriended them. … Read More
The High Road
I knew some people would be unhappy when I resigned as co-chair from our school’s Project Graduation committee. After all, I was the lead person keeping it all together, and my leaving would mean more work for remaining members. I knew a few of them would grumble amongst themselves, and talk about me in a poor light. I didn’t begrudge … Read More
I Don’t Want to be Branded by My Husband’s Affair, or Limited by the Past
In January, I discovered I’d been living in the past. And recently I uncovered yet another layer to this existence. My past, so to speak, the timeline upon which I base my present life, seems to begin and end five-and-a-half years ago. September 1, 2006. The day I stumbled upon my husband’s second affair. And frankly, I am a bit … Read More
Stepping Down, While Standing Up for My Beliefs
I’ve never considered myself a quitter. Much to the contrary, I’ve always viewed myself as someone who is full of moxie and tenacity, one who “sticks it out to the bitter end.” But two weeks ago I not only walked away from endeavors that have my sweat stamped into them, I resigned my position as the group’s leader. The decision … Read More