February 22, 2018 Dear Families, This past weekend, we purchased a car for Hunter.  I believe he would word it a bit differently.  An adverb like "finally" would likely precede the verb purchased if he were sharing the story. With this purchase came more parenting opportunities. Very exciting. It also provided further confirmation that we … Continue reading Stalled Out

February 1, 2018 Dear Families, Last week, I navigated the crowded halls of the middle school in the morning with 6 chairs in my hands. Three in each arm. I like to live on the edge. Rarely, do I receive help well. As I weaved in and out of clusters of students, I heard, "Guys, … Continue reading Rules of the Round Table

January 25, 2018 Dear Families, I write today with a grieved heart. I struggle to find my voice of late. The words fail "to pour from my pen with feverish fluidity" as they did for Ralphie when he described his passion for the Red Rider BB Gun. Over the weekend, I contemplated why. I reached … Continue reading The Real Tide Pod Challenge

January 18, 2018 Dear Families, I decided to revisit and modify a post from the past.  Have you ever spent time as a parent guiding your child, only to have them change course midstream? Have you ever imagined your child's path and future only to have them make an abrupt 180? At times, it breaks … Continue reading All I Ever Needed to Know I Learned from Baseball…Revisited

January 13, 2018 Dear Families, Well, I blew it! It’s not the first time. It won’t be the last time.  But I definitely dropped the ball. During the break, I decided to identify topics I wanted to cover in my Thursday Wire updates.  On my schedule, I identified that this week’s letter would address the … Continue reading Owning Ownership

December 14, 2017 Dear Families, Growing up presents all kinds of new opportunities. Good. Bad. Ugly. Our society offers all sorts of fun distractions in the process. Snapchat. Instagram. Twitter. Navigating the road of adolescents often proves to be as winding as the highways of the Colorado High Country. As parents, we find ourselves in … Continue reading Nutrition and the Teenage Brain

November 30, 2017 Dear Families, By now you know that my parenting journey contains all sorts of opportunity for growth as a person and as a parent. I wish that I could say that every decision I made resulted in a harmonious outcome.  Oh, how I wish that. My heart’s desire is to share my … Continue reading Things I Learned When I was a Parent of Middle Schoolers

1.   Pounding pavement is better than pounding your fists. 2.   Sweat washes you from the inside out. 3.   Endurance is earned. 4.   Determination is a decision. 5.   Focus is found in the will to finish. 6.   Goals are only accomplished if you take one step at a time. 7.   Hard work makes a difference. 8.   Strength … Continue reading Top 10 Things I Have Learned from Running

November 9, 2017 Dear Families, I received permission from my son to share this story with you. I do not take my role as middle school principal lightly. I spend sleepless nights worrying about each and every one of my students. I desire first and foremost to support them as they work their way out … Continue reading Growth Comes through Struggle…Period.

November 2, 2017 Dear Families, I knew when Maddy was 2 weeks old, she would be my wanderer. She hated being swaddled. Any type of confinement, Out. Of. The. Question. My mom sat back in silent satisfaction as I stressed over the realization that she would seek adventure wherever she could find it. My mother's satisfaction stemmed … Continue reading GPS…The False Security