What do you believe, and what will you do with that?

A few months ago I was chatting with my Grandmother, whom I affectionately call Gma. If you don’t know my Gma, she’s a feisty, independent lady with a quick wit, great taste in books, and a fondness for Culver’s fish sandwiches. The daughter of Polish immigrants, she became a single mom in the 1960’s, raising her two daughters while teaching English in Detroit Public Schools. … Continue reading What do you believe, and what will you do with that?

How to support the teachers in your life

When I was eight or nine years old, I loved playing “school” with my younger sister. My best friend Angie and I would spend hours creating worksheets and lessons for my four-year-old sister to complete, with time for recess and naps in-between. We must have done a pretty good job, because two decades later, my sister is a fantastic teacher in downtown Detroit! Something about … Continue reading How to support the teachers in your life

Host family camp in your own backyard

We just spent a long weekend camping in my parents’ backyard. Like, really camping. We’re talking sleeping in tents, grilling our meals outside, wearing sports sandals and getting cool farmer tan lines — the whole thing. Before COVID-19 hit, we had planned to rent a cabin by beautiful Lake Michigan as a family. But with that option removed, we had to get creative. With seven … Continue reading Host family camp in your own backyard

Making a difference in your city (during a pandemic)

Last fall, long before we were all at home baking bread from scratch, I stumbled across an advertisement for the Lansing Citizens Academy. Drawn in by the cute new Lansing city logo and the name, I submitted an application and soon found out I was accepted! I spent the next three months attending weekly civic engagement sessions with two dozen fellow Lansing residents, learning about … Continue reading Making a difference in your city (during a pandemic)

My coworker refuses to wear pants: working from home with a toddler

I have (thankfully, gratefully) been able to work from home since the middle of March due to COVID-19. My toddler, who was 17 months old when this started, has been with me every one of those days. Working full time from home with a toddler has been a lot of things. It has been silly, like the other day when I tried to do a … Continue reading My coworker refuses to wear pants: working from home with a toddler

Lansing Area Parks I Love: Starting Close to Home

One of my favorite things about the Lansing area is the number of public parks we have. Seriously, look at this map! Courtesy of Lansing Parks and Recreation Especially in this time of COVID-19 and social distancing, visiting local parks has really helped my mental health. Being able to spend time outside, breathe fresh air, and even visit with friends [walking six feet apart] has … Continue reading Lansing Area Parks I Love: Starting Close to Home