Music to a Mother's Ears

Mom: "How was school today, Max?"

Max: "Great - we played with fire in science!"

Deja Vu All Over Again

One of things they don't tell you about parenting is that you relive your own childhood experiences as your child goes through them. This can be a double-edged sword, of course. Sometimes the memories are good; sometimes not so much. My dreams last night played out my childhood anxieties about homework, school bullies, and mean teachers.

Never Going Back to My Old School

It's back to school tomorrow morning. Both kids are in schools new to them. Max is now in middle school - yikes! And Sam has moved from the K-1 building to the 2-5 building.

Max has mastered operation of the lock on his locker, and he knows where to be for that first morning "advisory." Dad will drop them both off tomorrow morning with backpacks, school supplies, and snacks and hope for the best.

This week I travel to Troy, Michigan, in pursuit of the next opportunity. As Ed says, getting to the interview in another city on time seems to be one of the tests to pass this time around. Is this because I'm reaching for something that's a little further out of reach than usual? That's what I'm telling myself.

Middle School Mania

We're going back to school!

Middle school orientation is today. I think I'm as excited as Max is!

Impatience and Impatiens

My impatience with the search for more meaningful work is wearing me out. Yesterday Rosa pointed out that I have planted a lot of seeds, and I need to wait for them to grow. I like this metaphor, and I'm going to continue planting seeds and nurturing them!

The Wives Are In Connecticut

For those that are following the saga in the 3D world, Connecticut is a bust. This wife will not be in Connecticut.

Next imaginary stop: Chicago.

You Can Take This Job and . . .

The cutthroat politics at work are killing me. The sad part is, they're killing the organization, too. Because they kill the regular working person's spirit.

So many of the best "workers" I know are afraid. Afraid to tell the truth. Afraid to stick their neck out. Afraid to share what they know! What the hell?! How is this a good thing?

A mind is a terrible thing to waste. And we're wasting a lot of them.

Have You Ever Been Experienced?

I spent about four hours Sunday documenting my "experiences and skills." I tried to let if flow, and when I looked at what I had written, I found it interesting that I chose to list my "experiences," as opposed to my "experience."

This seems to be a key insight into my life and personality. I cherish my experiences, and I learn the most and the best from them. My perspectives change as I move through experiences. Perspective shifts are much more significant (to me) than any "skill" I might pick up along the way. Not that skills aren't important, but they have the feeling of another tool in the toolkit, where an experience feels like I've been inside a new workshop.

Next It'll Be the McArthur 'Genius' Grant

The other day I came home from work and opened the mailbox to find a letter from the Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES). I assumed it was something for my brilliant Max, of course.

When I opened the letter, it was an invitation from CIES to stop by their booth at the Academy of Management meeting. They administer the program for Fulbright Scholars.

It tickled me to think that someone out there thinks I might be a candidate for a Fulbright scholarship. It made my whole evening, as a matter of fact! It made me picture myself in a new way.

Move over, Max. Academically speaking, Mom may decide to give you a run for your money!