A Pumpkin and a Patch

by Jennifer Peel

I had to remind myself that the real rewards in education came in the classroom. Who needed a six-figure income and the ability to take bathroom breaks whenever you wanted? Not me.

My esteem for my dad always grew when I realized he was not blind to my mother’s craziness, yet he embraced it anyway. That was true love right there.

“Josie, you should always be the first person to stand up for yourself. I’m always happy to play backup for you, but the first step to getting out of the blender is to see your worth—and to realize you’re worth fighting for.”

I learned a long time ago that you can’t fix people; you can only help them.”