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My First Sleepover
I have a guest writer for this post, my son Ian. He loved that I wrote about his spider-scare, so he wanted to write a story himself. He chose to write about his first sleepover, which is perfect since...
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Did You Know I Had Cancer?
What used to go over Ian’s head at four-years-old is resonating with him at seven. We worked very hard at protecting him from the negative talk that surrounds Cancer during his treatments (Heart of a...
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Three Years Ago Today…
Today is our anniversary. Three years ago our lives changed forever, but there won’t be a celebration today. We won’t have a cake or a special dinner. As a matter of fact, it’s just a normal Saturday...
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…the Rest of the Story.
April 30, 2009. Another anniversary that we won’t celebrate. Another day filled with painful memories. Unlike the day we found the tumor, my memories of this day are clouded by tears. I remember...
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Positively—Scared
I feel like a failure. I write about staying optimistic through whatever life throws at me, yet I’m scared of that very possibility. Ian recently had an MRI that came back clear, thankfully, but it was...
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Ian Knows Pain
Besides the obvious struggles, Ian’s Cancer treatments three years ago have created other problems for him now. The radiation machine that zapped the bad cells in his brain also deteriorated Ian’s gums...
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Do you remember when you were my only friend?
Ian and I were on our way to play miniature golf last night, and he asked me this innocent question: “Mom, do you remember when you were my only friend?” “What do you mean, buddy?” “When I was four....
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Special in Every Way
“I think we need to put Ian in special education.” Ian’s teacher was saying something about the anomalies in his learning abilities, but my breath caught in my throat, and I only pieced together what I...
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How Heroes Are Made
Last night, Ian told me he’s getting picked on by kids at school. Ian told one friend that he’s going to be Spiderman someday, and that friend told other kids. Those kids now pick on him and tell him...
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Parents in Education
If parents really want to make a difference in their children’s education, they have the power to do so. Parents can truly be the biggest change agent at their schools. They can bring about change...
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Why are children crying about school?
If you have a child who enjoys school, count your blessings. I don’t. I have a child who cries almost every night. He cries while we are working on his homework; it is too hard and too much for him. He...
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Can We Escape the Matrix?
Many people are talking about what’s right and wrong with education; Steve Hargadon’s Escaping the Education Matrix is a thought provoking position. Hargadon’s idea that we are in an “education matrix”...
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A letter to my son on his ninth birthday
Dear Ian, Happy birthday my darling boy! Your birth nine years ago brought so much joy to my life. You were an answer to prayer then as you are now. We’ve been through so much together and have come...
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Part 1: Identifying the problems in our current educational system
Ken Robinson: How to escape education’s death valley I love Ken Robinson’s videos: He is entertaining and makes a lot of sense. Recently I read some criticism about him; these people thought Robinson...
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Part 2: the 2nd principle that drives human life
In an earlier post, Part 1: Identifying the problems, I discussed how Ken Robinson’s video is helping education by shining a light on the problems, identifying the 3 principles that drive human life,...
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Part 3: The solution is right in front of us
Robinson’s final point is that we cannot help our students thrive under the current educational system, but we do have an alternative-school model that should replace what we are doing now. I agree....
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Opting Out: Why Ian Will Never Take State Tests
I’m taking a stand this year: My son is not taking the standardized state tests that are being mandated by the government. His school will receive a zero for my opting him out, which will lower his...
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I’m Taking a Stand
Thursday, March 13, 2014, my children and I will be at our state capitol in Denver, Colorado protesting standardized state tests. I may be putting a lot of things at risk by taking this stand, but...
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You can judge me if you want to
You can judge me if you want to, but before you do, know that I primarily stayed in my marriage because of my son. Ian has been through so much in his nine years: He battled a cancerous brain tumor at...
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My Journey into the Spotlight
The past two weeks have been a whirlwind of activity. My Resignation Letter went viral through Facebook and Twitter. Within two days of posting the letter on my blog, the Gazette contacted me for an...
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