Jen Merrill's Blog, page 20
April 17, 2015
Living IRL
I was having a conversation with Andy the other day, discussing what life skills he would need to have to be a productive adult in today’s society. He eventually just sighed sadly and said, “Life is hard.” I managed to convince him that life is complex, and that’s ok, and that he’d be fine. But …
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March 16, 2015
Homeschooling in the House of Chaos
What does homeschooling look like in the House of Chaos? Oh honey, pull up a chair, pour some wine, and prepare to feel better about yourself. I shall pick a random weekday, let’s say…Tuesday (or rather, a general compilation of a whole bunch of Tuesdays). 6:00 My alarm goes off. Fumble with the iPhone to …
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March 9, 2015
I didn’t opt my son out of the PARCC tests
When you make a decision, it’s YES or NO in one form or another. When youdon’t make a decision, or put it off so long that it’s made for you, you’re still making a decision, you’ve just decided to remove yourself from the process. This is whymy ten year old son went off to start …
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February 16, 2015
Those gifted code words
So how doyou say gifted? Once I know a person, or a situation, I say it with my talkhole. The one under my nose. I also eat with it, play flute with it, let loose the occasional whistle, test drive a newchapstick. I say gifted, I say twice-exceptional, I say it’s not achievement but wiring, …
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February 13, 2015
Never Say Never The Sequel
Stop. Freeze. Don’t move. Somewhere on your body, maybe someplace you cannot easily reach, you have an itch. NO! Don’t scratch it. You can’t. You won’t. Because you promised that you wouldn’t until sometime in the future and you don’t know exactly when that might be. Ignore it. Try. Move on with all the things …
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January 19, 2015
{GHF Blog hop} Reel life this ain’t
People have told me for years that our lives here would make a great sitcom. That’s all well and good, but no one would believe it. A gifted or twice-exceptional family doesn’t transition well to a screen, big or little. Hobbies and jokes that few would get.Too nuanced, too much angst, not enough laugh track. …
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January 14, 2015
Mindful of the year
It’s a new year, time for a new word. But not just any word. My Word Of The Year (cue fireworks and inspirational music and dancers and please let’s not forget the hula-hooping llamas this year, m’kay?). For the last several years I’ve chosen a word through which I’d focus my life. 2011 was a …
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January 12, 2015
Blog drift
My friendPamelahas a phrase that so perfectly sums up what and how I’m feeling right now it’s as though she lives in my head. It’s… Hold that thought. Everyone should have a friend like Pamela. Though we live a thousand miles apart and only met in person last summer when we were roommates at the …
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January 6, 2015
Let me tell you about…meeting your child where he is
The most vulnerable place for a woman is flat on her back, wrapped in an ill-fitting paper gown, feet in stirrups, butt waving in the air. Oh sure, childbirth is maybe a BIT higher on the vulnerability chart, especially with the revolving crowd of health attendants, but there’s more going on there. An action scene, …
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January 2, 2015
I can haz summer now?
It’s January 2nd. I can haz summer now? Please? The holidays are over, we’ve had our chance at a white Christmas, we’ve toasted the new year and critiqued the Rose Parade marching bands. The usefulness of winter is over. There really is no further need for cold temperatures and the threat of snow. And …
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