Posts by Kate
a difference
Sometimes as a teacher, it’s difficult to know whether I’m making a difference. It’s certainly easier now that I teach adults because adults—and especially mothers—are more vocal in their appreciation than, say, a bunch of 18-year-olds. But even now, I sometimes wonder whether what I do matters. Needless to say, it made my day the…
Read Morethe possibility of everything
There is nothing better than reading a book that transports you somewhere steamy and lush when outside your window the temperature has been hovering just below zero for a week. I was thrilled to be able to curl up with Hope Edelman’s new book, The Possibility of Everything, during our ridiculous cold snap a few…
Read Morethank you
Thank you for your sweet comments about my piece in Brevity. And a big thank you to those of you who “de-lurked” for Haiti last week. Because a number of “known” visitors also commented, I decided to donate $1 to for every person who posted a comment on any Mother Words post in the last…
Read Morean honor
I have been reading Brevity for years and I’ve dreamt of being published there. The first two pieces I submitted (one in 2004 and one in 2005) were both excerpts of Ready for Air. In each case, I tried to condense a scene or chapter from my memoir into a 750-word essay. It didn’t work.…
Read Morede-lurk for haiti
I haven’t been watching much of the news coverage of the devastation in Haiti—I just can’t do it. But this doesn’t mean that I’m not thinking about the people in Haiti. On the contrary, I can’t stop thinking about them. The image that comes to me again and again is that of a mother, walking…
Read Moretwo essays
I have to post links to two wonderful essays: I love Victoria Patterson’s “Writer Duck,” up now at Literary Mama. (It was also the first essay I worked on as a Literary Mama editor, so, well, there’s that.) And then this wonderful short-short, “July 3rd,” by one of my lovely students just won honorable mention…
Read Morereading and teaching
Perhaps you noticed that I didn’t post about too many books or essays this fall. I was just in over my head and apparently incapable of digesting anything literary after the girls were in bed. But I’m happy to report that I’m reading again—finally—and I have a ton of exciting books to post about in…
Read Morebuying time
I finally realized that I can’t juggle everything—teaching and editing and writing and child care and house maintenance—without more time. So starting next week, Stella will be in an extended-day program the three mornings a week that Zoë is in preschool. This essentially means that I’m buying back six of the ten work hours I…
Read More2010!
I don’t usually spend much time reflecting on the past year as I switch over the calendar. I don’t make resolutions. Last night was the first time in years that I even stayed up until midnight. But even though I did stay up, I was kind of a Scrooge about it. We were watching the…
Read Moremerry christmas
I’m hunkering down, preparing for the big snow storm forecasted to hit Minnesota tonight. We don’t have to drive more than a few miles to celebrate Christmas, so I’m fine with the snow, but I hope all of you who DO have to travel arrive and return safely. Stella and D are out ice-skating for…
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