Author, Advocate, and Academic for the Gifted & Twice-exceptional
The following essay was written February 9, 2020 (on the verge of but prior to Andrew Yang's presidential race drop-out, the coronavirus pandemic, and the crash of the U.S./world economy) for my government class. Although Senator Mitch McConnell has taken credit for this idea (following Mitt Romney and others), the points made in this article and by Andrew Yang remain applicable, perhaps now more than ever.
"I've learned how to be a cycle-breaker and how to become a positive parent. By doing so, I am modeling healthy balance by first modeling healthy behavior. We've all got to start somewhere."
Saying "everyone is gifted in some way" is a way of rationalizing, of equaling the playing field. A completely normal, rational way of rationalizing. But still equally ridiculous.
“You make me insane!” I’ve yelled at my husband at times. I never truly meant insane—only mad as heck! Unlike me (perhaps), however, Progressive-Era women did have something to be mad as heck about. Charlotte Perkins Gilman wrote “The Yellow Wallpaper” during the Progressive Era in America, a time of tremendous social, political, and educational… Continue reading Insanity Creeping Out: Progressive-Era Subjugation in “The Yellow Wallpaper”
In my former legal assistant profession, I dealt with many shades of people--some so colorful they would make a rainbow appear drab. These same people were usually the ones who used language that grated on my nerves. Let me clarify. I'm not specifically talking about precise use of language ("smart" vs. "intelligent" vs. "clever"). Yes,… Continue reading Said vs. Stated: Irritating Nuances of Language Usage
Secular Christian Homeschooling--that's really a thing? I have no idea. But if not, consider me revolutionary. I am a Christian. However, I also believe in separation of religion and education (or, if you prefer, "church and state," but since I no longer adhere to the state-run educational system, maybe that's not so accurate). Specifically in… Continue reading Secular Christian Homeschooling: It’s My Thing But It Certainly Doesn’t Have To Be Yours
I'm so over purveyors of popular penny-pinching perfectionist ploys. I've been reading all the blogs. I subscribe to all the newsletters. You know the ones. Do this and your kids will be healthy, perfect angels who don't spazz out on sugar crack, and your skin and hair will be shiny and luxurious, and your home… Continue reading Ditch the Deviations
I'll start by saying, the older I get, the less crap I give about speaking out, bucking the bull, or going against mainstream society. I haven't always been honest with myself. I haven't always been myself around people. I haven't always done what makes me happy. I've made some changes over the years, though, and… Continue reading Find True; Be True
"Close your mouth," my husband whispered to me as I sat in the passenger seat at the Dairy Queen drive-through window. The man taking our order stood patiently waiting. As I watched the chocolate sauce ooze down onto a vanilla cone, I got caught open-mouthed and nearly drooling. I was debating over a chocolate fudge… Continue reading Close Your Mouth
The End Of The World As We Know It