DISCLAIMER: These are NOT meant to replace medical equipment. If you are making masks that are meant to take the place of medical-grade personal protective equipment, you’re going to need a different tutorial, of which there are plenty on the… Read more ›
Last night, students at Joliet Central – the high school where I work – held the first annual Showcase for Peace: Joliet students creatively expressing their stance on gun violence. We had students submit poetry, essays, stories, songs, artwork, and… Read more ›
Most of you all have been around here for a while, so you already know about my side business and venture to provide a yearly, $1,000 scholarship for a girl in need at the school where I teach. But I… Read more ›
Last week, as I was getting my hair cut, the stylist next to me was cutting the hair of a middle-aged man and was saying, “I don’t know, though. We have to listen to these kids. It seems like they’re… Read more ›
Ever since the Parkland shooting, I have been feeling progressively worse. I’m not really sure how to describe it, but it started with a feeling like someone was standing on my chest. Then, it was almost like a balloon had… Read more ›
It is so short and jumbled and jangled, Sam, because there is nothing intelligent to say about a massacre. Everybody is supposed to be dead, to never say anything or want anything ever again. Everything is supposed to be very… Read more ›
I’m over at Teaching Tolerance talking about ways teachers can talk about the recent sexual harassment allegations saturating the media: If the conversation about sexual harassment and assault doesn’t come up organically, there are a number of ways to incorporate… Read more ›
When I saw the protesters in Texas dressed like Handmaids protesting restrictive abortion laws, I knew I had a new life goal. I mean, think about it. This protest marries literally every single one of my interests. Books. Feminism. Protesting. Politics.… Read more ›
If you’ve followed me for any length of time here, you know that I love sewing and knitting. You might even remember my ill-advised last attempt at opening an Etsy shop… I think I figured out what was wrong with… Read more ›
I have a body. For the most part, I like this body. When I want it to dance, it dances. When I want it to pick up my child, it picks up my child. When I want it to breathe… Read more ›
In my last post about the March for Science, I wrote about all of the things we’ve been doing to use less waste in our house. Let’s recap: … buying your clothes secondhand (or making them!), washing your clothes appropriately… Read more ›
I’m no scientist. I have scientist genes somewhere in there, and I find science fascinating; heck, I’ll even go out of my way to encourage young girls into STEM fields, but I’m a humanities girl through-and-through. However, science is not only vital; to me, it is inextricably linked with the search for (and consequent recent denial of) truth.
So I marched as a science ally, if you will. We packed up Emily, grabbed a parking spot on SpotHero, donned our Pussyhats, and went. Read more ›
Since the Women’s March organizers announced that our next step was to be a general strike to make our absence felt in the workplace and make it known how necessary women are to the economy, I’ve had my reservations. I applauded the women of Poland in October for their strike against their government’s proposed abortion ban, and I stand in solidarity with Irish women doing the same next week, but I can’t seem to shake the idea that ours is not the same. Read more ›
My post about the Women’s March has been re-posted on the Ms. Magazine Blog: She also mentioned that she learned a lot (and, as her former teacher, that was music to my ears). She saw one sign, in particular, that… Read more ›
I was very fortunate to be able to attend the Women’s March on Washington on January 21 with a former student of mine, and the ability to share this momentous occasion with her was something neither of us will soon forget. Read more ›
I’m over at the Teaching Tolerance blog today, talking about my students’ reactions to my going to the Women’s March on Washington: Their responses were as varied and multifaceted as they are. One girl said that the march should be… Read more ›
I’m over at the Ms. Magazine blog today talking about Pussyhats: and the Women’s March: In launching the Pussyhat Project, the co-founders created a meditative and communal activity that serves as a mindfulness practice as well as an organizing opportunity.… Read more ›
Like most people in my circle of friends, after the election, I was left in a dark place. I wanted Hillary to win for women and girls everywhere, but I needed her to win to prove that progress isn’t perfect,… Read more ›
‘Tis the season of resolutions and promises to ourselves. Of one-word focused thoughts. Of gym memberships and diet plans. Of trying to be better versions of ourselves. At the moment, though, guilt is probably the most powerful motivator in my life because I feel intense guilt for not being more, or better, or focusing, or dieting. Read more ›
Last year, I came upon Slow Fashion October on Instagram and I was curious. At the time, though, I had just started knitting small things (mostly cowls and hats) that actually looked decent and, while I was proud of those… Read more ›