It’s been a long while since I checked in with my fellow slicers. Every year I say I’m going to keep up with Tuesday slicing. I think about you all each week as I get THE email from Two Writing Teachers. I almost always plan to login and put a slice out into the world [wide web]. Yet life usually derails my plans and something else takes priority. 

But not in March. March is different. It’s the month that writing DOES take priority. I try to set aside time after dinner or once the [not-so] littles are asleep. My family is usually pretty good about giving me this time. March is when I start to brainstorm topics and determine if each little anecdote is sliceable. A few are…most aren’t. 

This year is no different. I’ve had on my to do list to start taking note of stories or even some sort of writing plan. I’ve have had a couple of ideas—but they usually fly out of my head as quickly as they flew in. My plan is to browse some long time slicers to see if anything pops out as a fun structure. If I had thought about it, I would have done this throughout the year. 

Hindsight, man. 

So today will just be a catch up.  Over here, everything is pretty much the same.  I’m still working as an assistive technology specialist, in the same district, with the same team…we are seriously the dream team.

My kiddos are 5, 8 and nearly 11. The youngest is as feral as ever. He started kindergarten and is an angel at school. He saves his Tasmanian devil side for home. We are just so lucky!

My middle man is my sensitive guy. He [over] reacts with his whole heart. He must tell me I love you a dozen times a day. I must say, I don’t mind that part. It’s the other BIG feelings that terrorize us all. Managing emotions is a work in progress.

My oldest is a mini-me. She’s not me at ten…almost eleven. No…I was an obedient little bookworm who wouldn’t dare dream of talking back to her mom. She’s me NOW…as a 49 year old, take-no-shit, kind of woman. I grew up and grew a voice…and I hear it come out of her mouth everytime she opens it. For better or for worse.

Speaking for better or for worse, my husband and I just celebrated our 13th anniversary. February is a busy month for us: the 13th is my birthday, 14th is Valentine’s Day, 16th is our anniversary, and 27th is the day we met. We like to pack it all in. We’ve been through a lot since we met in 2010. But I wouldn’t change a single thing.

How have you been?  I really want to know. What’s changed in the last year?  Are you teaching a new grade or subject?  School?  District? Did you leave teaching all together?  How is the family?  Any big life updates you want to share?

I am writing for the 19th annual Slice of Life challenge presented by Two Writing Teachers.