Jen Merrill's Blog, page 29

Best laid plans

I’d intended to write several blog posts ahead, so that I would never feel pressured or rushed or crazed trying to write one late at night. Then I’d intended to hide away during part of NAGC and write, because I almost never get a chance to be alone and think. And then I’d intended to write quickly and coherently and make beautiful music prose as I was half-asleep and delusional.

Ohhhh….the best laid plans.

The beauty of a solo car trip

I made it down here to Indianapolis for the NAGC conference. Three and a half hours in the car, with the crazy drivers on I-65. At least this time I did not feel the need to flip off another driver, unlike the incident in August when I came dangerously close to being a very very bad accident. But today had lovely weather and a nice long stretch of quiet, uninterrupted thinking.

This weekend will have great sessions with long stretches of quiet, uninterrupted thinking, and another three hour dr...

NAGC bound

Tomorrow I leave for a few days, toddling on down south to Indianapolis, for the annual National Association for Gifted Children conference. It’s my first time to go, and I’m presenting at that. Well, co-presenting. But it’s on homeschooling gifted kids, and I kinda sorta almost know about that, so it’d be worth your time to come say hi. Rumor has it that Saturday is Parents’ Day, our presentation is that afternoon (1:45…seriously, come say hi), and it’s a good time to come make the needs of...

Did’ja hear the one about the blogger who had total control of her life and schedule?

No? Yeah, me neither. So instead of a real post (because I’m tired and trying to prep for the NAGC convention this weekend) here’s a picture of the leaves staging a violent coup in our front yard.

How to stay warm in a Chicago winter

I grew up here. I distinctly remember the Blizzard of ’79, when we got nine feet of snow. I learned at the tender age of six that an ironing board is an acceptable parking-space holder, and that if you ignored that tidbit and parked in someone’s spot anyway that you were likely going to be chased by an irate homeowner brandishing a tire iron. Don’t mess with someone’s parking space, is what I am saying. Also snowblowers are a good idea.

When I was in college I and two roommates lived in a pit...

It’s fallen and it won’t get up

Did you remember to set your clocks back this morning? If you did, I’m sure you enjoyed your extra hour of sleep. If not, I’m sure you stunned people being an hour early to church/brunch/tai chi in the park. If you’re blearily cursing the whole situation, you have young children who were up at the crack of extra-crazy and you’re looking for the duct tape and cartoons so you can return to bed and/or mainline coffee in the pantry. Death Wish Coffee exists for these situations; I really should t...

Avoid the 13/40 split

I’d like to speak to all the young women out there, perusing these ramblings of a middle agedyoung at heart homeschooling mom. I’m sure you’re out there, reading about my life of quiet desperationsupreme awesomeness, so I’m going to share a piece of very important life advice. Trust me, you need this.

Young women of this world, do whatever you need to do to avoid giving birth the year you are 27. Double the birth control, become a hermit, enter a nunnery. Donotspawn a mini-you during the twelv...

NaBloPoMo post one, year six

The month’s theme: Once More Into the Breach.

Today is the first day of November, which marks the return of two delightful things in my life: Peppermint Mochas at Starbucks (oooh, imagine my surprise and delight this morning!…and should not have looked at those nutritionals…) and the crazy-making chaos that is NaBloPoMo. I can’t believe how long I’ve done National Blog Posting Month. Six years? Really? January will mark eight years of this blog, so wow.

What will this month bring?

Thrills! Spill...

How to prepare for parent/teacher conferences

It’s that time of year again, friends, when you toddle on into a school, sit in a wee little chair with your knees in your ears, and are presented with hard evidence of your child’s successes and struggles in school. It’s parent/teacher conference time.

I still have a touch of the PTSD around parent/teacher conferences, courtesy of The Most Complex Child on the Planet™ and his last few years in school. As a homeschooler, parent/teacher conferences are a breeze. I may or may not conduct them in...

Watch out, she’s gonna blow

Dear god give me strength I am going to snap and I should probably apologize in advance to everyone nearby because shards of me are likely to go flying and lodge themselves into someone’s eyeball.

Perhaps I should explain before the snappage occurs.

Climb into the WayBack Machine, and travel with me twelve years ago or so. I was a new momma, with a six month old child who was finally starting to sleep. Or rather, was finally starting to sleep without the benefit ofme under, beside, or near him....