My dad’s brother is my Uncle Chuck. He’s a teacher by trade and an Irish Christian Brother by calling. He took a vow of poverty and lives with Christ in his heart. He devoted his life to teaching young men the ways of the Lord by teaching in several all men’s high schools during his multiple postings over maybe 60-70 years of ministry.
Continue readingIt’s been a year since we have all gathered in this familiar space. We come to bare our souls to each other and the public at large. We revisit with old friends and find new ones. We catch up on each other’s lives. Who has a new baby? Who is newly married…or divorced? Who has moved homes or classrooms? Who has left teaching entirely and is just still lurking out there?
Continue readingWe all pile into my bed. McKenna pulls out the book reminds me that I promised two chapters. She’s on my right and Theo is on my left. George is to the left of him balancing precariously close to the edge of the bed.
Continue readingA few years ago, I wrote a blog post about how my daughter is my very own echo chamber. At the time, it was little toddler talk. She would mimic a word or two, a phrase or song. Now I argue with my own damn self all day. Want to know how annoying you really are? Grow a tiny human to argue with daily. They turn your words on you faster than you can say fruit snack.
Continue readingWe tried to do it in October. But a headache cancelled the event. At any other time, a headache would be dismissed as an inconvenience. But in Covid times, a headache could be the start of a super spreader. So we cancelled.
Continue readingWinter is literally melting away. The white snow is now a muddy mess. But I’m beginning to see little bits of green popping through in all the right places.
Continue readingIt’s been a year.
I have a new baby. He is 8 months old. And yet he has never been in a restaurant, store, playground, daycare, or anywhere else that wasn’t our home or the home of our beloved Great Grandpa. He has never seen another baby besides his own reflection in the mirror. He is so young yet I still wonder how these 8 months will have impacted his life far beyond what it is now.
Continue readingI have been afraid to write this. I am embarrassed that it has taken me so long. I’m fearful that I will say the wrong thing….that I will say something that is unintentionally inflammatory. Please know, if I have, it is OK to call me out on it. It is the only way I can learn. Being silent is no longer an option. By staying silent, I am speaking volumes. I am becoming (or already am) part of the problem. I am saying it is OK when it is clearly not.
This started out as a FB post. Clearly I had so much more to say.
Tonight was night one of McKenna being in the top bunk. She was in and out of her bed and room at least a dozen times. She’s a creature of habit and this change is big for her. The final time she crawled into bed with me and started sobbing.
It’s been 31 days of writing. Eighteen of them have been while social distancing. I’ve learned a few things about myself, my family and even you.
Karyn In The Kitchen 