Memories and Words: Creating a Special End to a Special Year

This year was one for the books- my reunion with teaching. It was full of ups and downs (mostly ups) and so many memories. I adore my new school. I loved my 5th Graders. I had the best paras and the best parents supporting me. Teaching 5th Grade again after 3 years off felt like coming home. It was only fitting to tie up this gift-of-a-year with a bow. I wanted our last month to feel intentional and special. This post is about the little things I planned for my kids in their final year of Elementary School.

Poetry Cafe

Our last big writing unit of the year was about poetry. I have taught poetry in different ways over the years, but I have to give credit to my teaching partner in Tunisia, Angie Vintner. She had this amazing poetry unit using mentor texts, centers, and “doors to poetry.” Rather than teaching students all the formulaic poetry formats like haiku and cinquain, we taught mostly free-verse. This year I spent 3 days just brainstorming inspiration ideas which we called our “doors to poetry” before I let them even start writing. Then for 2 weeks, we read great poetry, borrowed the poetic devices we noticed, and I gave them ample time to just write freely in their notebooks. This culminated in some brilliant pieces that were just too good not to share, so we went all out! We created our own poetry book entitled 5th Grade Aura. Every student had multiple poems and illustrations in the book and everyone got their own copy. For the celebration, we turned our room into a “poetry cafe” and invited all the parents. Our music teacher lent me her microphone and speaker system to ensure even the softest voices could be heard. Each student read at least one of their poems and we all snapped our fingers for applause. I also used my document camera to project their poems and illustrations behind them as they read. After the poetry readings, we had refreshments and an area for parents to leave positive messages for the kids. It was such a feel-good event- definitely a tradition I plan to continue.

The 10 Day Countdown

For the final days, I wanted to surprise my kids with a little something special or different each day. I came up with my ideas, put them on notecards, and made a countdown poster with the activities hidden. Each morning during our morning meeting, I flipped over a card to reveal the new event. I chose things that were easy and free to implement- just some added fun. Honestly I think the surprise factor was more fun than the activities themselves. Here’s what we did:

  • Sit where you want for the day
  • Extra recess
  • Drawing/ art time
  • Show and Tell (Spread across 2 days)
  • Write letters to future 5th Graders
  • Visit the dungeon (This one is our inside joke. I have a storage closet in my classroom that I refer to as “the dungeon” and the kids have been begging me to go in the dungeon all year. Kind of silly that they are that excited about standing in a closet, but who am I to stand in the way of their dreams?)
  • Field Day (All credit goes to our PE teacher for this event.)
  • 5th Grade Fun Day (All credit goes to our amazing PTO and parents for this one. The day includes tie-dying class t-shirts, a picnic at the park, a photo booth, and bowling.)
  • Slideshow and gift (I made a movie with all the photos I’ve taken this year. More on the gift later.)

Words of Affirmation

We’ve gotten to know each other very well this year. For morning work one week in April, I gave my students a class list and asked them to write one positive word that made them think of each of their classmates. I told them to keep it secret and put up a list of kind character traits on the board in case they needed ideas. Most people listed adjectives like creative or kind, but sometimes the words were nouns that came to mind. I have a student who loves Hamilton and another that loves turtles. Some kids listed their friend’s favorite sport or hobby as well. After collecting all the papers, I typed the words listed for each student and input them into WordArt.com to create a collage. I printed the word art and glued it onto construction paper next to a photo of each kid. I think it makes a nice memento and confidence-booster to see all the kind things their classmates think of them.

Memory Books

Our school district emailed a while back with an opportunity to get funds for a classroom project. Every teacher could apply for $100 as long as they had a specific project in mind- not just general supplies. I jumped on that right away and ordered blank hardback books, scrapbook paper, and a pack of 300 stickers. I decided that each student could create their own memory book. I took hundreds of photos throughout the year so each student got a packet of photos they were in. I just put them in a Google doc and sent it off to our printshop to be printed on regular copy paper. Not the highest quality, but it did the trick. Any time we had a bit of free time in our last month, students worked on their memory books. They cut out photos with scraps of colorful paper, stickers, and written captions. By the end, each book was unique. This is the first year I’ve done anything like this. In the past, I sent photos to parents all the time, but I think the kids love having their own copies. Plus, they seemed to love the creative process and the reminiscing that went along with creating these books.

Student Gifts

I try my best not to spend my own money on my job/ students. Sometimes it’s tempting, but I’ve got my own children and needs to take care of with my paycheck. I’m so thankful there are programs and grants that support teachers. I found an amazing opportunity this year with a local nonprofit called the Social Service League. They started Teacher Assistant Grants and I was lucky enough to win 2 of them this year- one in the Fall and one in the Spring. For the Spring, I applied for money to buy my students end-of-year gifts, including a book, a notebook for writing or drawing, and a tote bag. With Scholastic Book Clubs, I was able to get a great deal on books and personally picked out one for each of my students. The tote bags were just a bulk order from Amazon, but one of my students’ parents, who has a Cricut machine, helped me take them to the next level. Earlier in the year, my students each drew a self-portrait in ink; just black and white line drawings, but they turned out so great! I scanned each portrait, shrunk it down and combined them into a single design. This was the image printed onto the bags. Into each bag went a chapter book, 2 sketchbooks, their memory book, and laminated word art. I love how these gifts came together and I very much appreciated that the grant I received helped make it happen.

Para and Teacher Gifts

I would not have gotten through this year without the amazing paras and teachers who went above and beyond to help my students and me. I knew I wanted to find a meaningful gift to represent the year we had together. One of the big talking-points in my classroom this year were our plants. I started the year with 3. My students voted on names for each one, made them name tags, and stayed invested in their health and growth. We repotted them as they outgrew their original pots. I split and propagated them throughout the year and ended the year with 11. For para and teacher gifts, I decided to spread the love. I bought some cute, new pots and planted some of our classroom plant-babies. The kids gave them names and they lived in our room for about 2 months, getting plenty of sunshine and care. In our last week of school, I set up a little plant adoption table and let my coworkers pick their favorite, taking a little piece of our classroom home with them.

A memorable end to a memorable year! That’s a wrap on the 2025-26 school year. I am going to miss this class so much, but I am also ready for the rejuvenation that comes with summer break. Wishing all the teachers and school staff a fun and restful summer vacation. We earned it!

Tunisia: The Hidden Gem

6 years ago, during the height of the Pandemic, my husband, 2 children, and I moved to Tunisia for teaching jobs at an International School. Tunisia is a small Arabic country in North Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea. I didn’t know much about it before moving there. Even after moving there, much of it was a mystery. I don’t speak Tunisian Arabic or French. I don’t know much about the the Muslim religion. I’m also not an expert on the history of the area; the ancient city of Carthage and their fall to the Roman Empire or even more recent history with our occupation there during World War II. However, our family lived there for 2 years and slowly soaked in the beautiful culture, scenery, food, and slower pace of life. I left Tunisia in 2022, but think of it often. We have been lucky to travel to many countries over the years, but in my eyes, nothing quite compares. There’s something spiritual, older, wilder, and deeply special about Tunisia

I asked my daughter the other day, “When was a time in your life when you felt most free?” She didn’t even hesitate with her answer. She said living in Tunisia, specifically exploring the ancient Roman ruins. We lived in the Carthage area, minutes away from UNESCO World Heritage sites. We would picnic at the Antonine Baths, hike the Roman Villas, stumble upon an ancient Byzantine Basilica, and drive by the crumbling aqueducts on a daily basis. At times, it felt magical. I knew what Penny meant. My kids may not have understood that they were standing on the ruins of Carthaginian General Hanibal’s home or walking along the historical Punic Ports, but even without knowing the history, you could feel the significance. My kids who were 5 and 8 years old at the time loved getting lost in the maze of arches, tunnels, columns, and statues. They loved climbing to the top of the amphitheater steps or performing on the vast stages. They loved finding chunks of marble with Roman writing engraved in the stone or intricate mosaics still laid into the ground. It feels a bit surreal to walk among places that people built 2,000 years ago. And the thing about Tunisia is that it’s a best kept secret. We’d go to these amazing wonders and find ourselves completely alone, not another tourist in sight. Compared to our experiences in Rome, waiting in long lines and shuffling through crowds at the Colosseum, our experiences in Tunisia felt peaceful and sacred.

If you are interested in travel, Tunisia will always be my top recommendation. I suppose I’m biased because I had the luxury of 2 years there to explore and discover. Maybe if it was just a quick stop I wouldn’t have embraced it on the same level. It may not be the easiest place to navigate, but if you go prepared and with an open mind, I think you’ll find the beauty. With that in mind, I decided, after years away, I’d write a list of my personal favorite sites that we visited:

1. Dougga

Dougga is farther away from the tourist areas of Sidi Bou Said, but so worth the trip. A similar feel to Pompeii because it’s like a small city of ruins with huge temples, an amphitheater, roads, olive trees, and sometimes grazing sheep.

2. Antonine Baths

This was a place we frequented many times as it was just a few minutes from our house. It’s a smaller site, but has a gorgeous view of the sea and many picturesque architectural elements.

3. El Jem Colosseum

El Jem rivals the famous Roman Colosseum. It’s a bit smaller but better preserved and less crowded.

4. Uthina (Oudna)

Uthina is one of the Roman Empire’s oldest cities in Africa. It includes an amphitheater, huge columns, vaulted chambers, baths, and intact mosaics.

5. Odeon Roman Villas

This is another near-by spot we liked to visit in Carthage. You climb multiple levels of ruins and as you climb the views get better and better. This smaller site hosts statues, intricate mosaics, and beautiful plant life.

Of course, the lack of tourism is a double-edged sword. Many of the locals depend on tourism for income, and especially during the pandemic, you could feel the desperation. Tunisia just isn’t on many people’s radar. It wasn’t on mine until I was hired there. I had no idea it existed, but its beauty rivals Santorini, the Amalfi Coast, Rome, and the Caribbean. Some of the views are take-your-breath-away-unreal, without the high prices and swarms of tourists. It feels untouched. However, it’s also harder to navigate than more touristy places. A lot of our discoveries happened through word-of-mouth or accident. There’s no slick website to tell you the best shops, restaurants, and archeological sites. Many stores don’t even have signs. Some of the coolest places are down little alleyways with no parking and nothing else around them. When my mom and her husband visited us, it was extremely helpful to have a guide for them; someone who spoke the language, knew where to go, and could manage the driving and parking. But for anyone venturing to the La Marsa/ Carthage area without a guide, some shops to check out are:

  • Lyoum (Tunisian clothing brand/store)
  • Herboristerie: Green Land (herbal shop with tea, lotions, oils, etc.)
  • Supersouk (a gift shop with only Tunisian artisans that sells decor, food, jewelry, etc.)
  • XYZ Concept Store (a gift shop in La Marsa)
  • Rock the Kasbah (a boutique in SidiBou Said with decor, furniture, dinnerware, etc.)
  • Aly C Gallery (an art gallery in Sidi Bou Said)
  • Edokken (a gift shop in our old neighborhood with pottery, textiles, jewelry, etc.)

There are a few others I can picture, but even after an extensive Google Search, I can’t seem to find them and even when I lived there, I didn’t know their names. It was just “that shop in La Marsa above the produce market.” And I should add, there is the possibility that some of these places no longer exist. I was there years ago.

The other thing that’s part of the experience but maybe doesn’t come across in photos is the “grittiness” for lack of a better word. Tunis is gorgeous and full of character, but you are going to see trash on the street, stray cats and dogs with battle scars and fleas, butcher shops with camel, cow and sheep heads hanging in the windows, and you are going to have to navigate through wild drivers who honk, don’t drive in one lane and don’t pause at stop signs. We adjusted to these differences because we lived there for two years, but perhaps if it were just a vacation spot, I would have been more taken-aback.

But adjust we did, and I know this because of the reverse culture shock coming back to America. The manicured lawns, cookie-cutter houses, people obeying traffic signs, stores clearly labeled in neat rows, and the hundreds of options of shampoo or chips on store shelves seemed odd all of a sudden. Too clean. Too commercial. But we adjust to our environments quickly. I was right back to Target runs and Amazon packages on my doorstep. Both times I’ve lived overseas, I didn’t miss the American-consumerism. I spent less money and felt a freedom from the pressure to buy. However, both times I moved back home, it returned. I try to resist, but whatever forces are at play here: the marketing, the convenience, the habit, the dopamine hit, I’m right back to it.

Don’t get me wrong- I’m happy where I am, back in Kansas. I don’t feel the need to move abroad right now. I want roots, consistency, and relationships. But man, am I glad I took that leap to Tunisia years ago. It was a lesson in appreciating the little things. When I discovered a shop that sold chocolate chips or American cereal, it was like winning the lottery. You share that information with other expats and they are equally as excited. It was a lesson in discomfort- not knowing the language or customs or where to get things, but you work through it with the help of your new support system. It was a reminder of the beauty of diversity- teaching kids from all over the world, learning about different religions, customs, food, and history. And boy I miss the gorgeous weather, the bougainvillea flowers always in bloom, the smell of fruit trees in our backyard, the neighborhood cats, collecting sea glass on the beach, and journaling in ancient temples. Maybe I’m looking back with rose-colored glasses, but I’m okay with that. It’s a short period in my life that I will be forever grateful for. As Penny put it, it was freedom.

General Note: We lived in Cite Les Pins, near La Marsa, Carthage, and Sidi Bou Said. This area would be a great jumping off point for travel in Tunis.

A Teacher’s Most Important Quality- Growth

It’s now January, halfway through the school year, and we’re in a groove. I’ve gotten to know the curriculum materials, the students, and my coworkers. Overall, I’m feeling good. I enjoy going to work. I enjoy my class and my school. I also feel like I’ve found a good work-life balance, which historically has been a struggle for me. I’m one of the first ones in the building each morning, but I also leave on-time at the end of each day and can switch my focus to family and friends pretty easily. I think my life experiences, in and out of teaching, have led me to a place where I’m currently the teacher I’ve always wanted to be. I feel creative and confident in this role. I can relax and enjoy the kids, and I feel gratitude for my job. I had 3 years off to gain perspective and see that the grass wasn’t necessarily greener on the other side. I’m happy to be back and I think I landed in a place that suits me. 

But it didn’t always feel that way. I’ve been a burnt-out teacher. I’ve been in a place where I dreaded going to work. It’s interesting to think back and compare. Why is it feeling healthier and happier than it used to? Is it because I took time off? Is it because I’m more mature now? Is it because I’m at a school that reflects my values? Honestly, I’m not sure, but the stars seemed to have aligned and I’m grateful. Some combination of experiences- babysitter, dance teacher, classroom teacher, art teacher, public school, International school, DODEA school, para, substitute, mom, barista, former theatre kid, traveler/expat, and student- have created the teacher I am today. My philosophies have evolved. I’ve seen education initiatives come and go. I’ve worked with inspiring people. I’ve tried many curriculums and strategies, and currently, it’s all meshing together into something that feels intentional, joyful, healthy, and just right. I’m not saying the job is perfect and I’m certainly not perfect, but I think I’ve come a long way. 

Here’s a reflection on the way teaching has changed for me.

Being Silly and Promoting Play

In my classroom, sometimes we work hard. We are focused and serious about our learning. But in between, I’m trying to sprinkle in some silliness and laughter. It’s little things like referring to my closet as a “dungeon” or pretending I’m “The Desk Fairy” after we clean the room and inspecting every inch of the room dramatically. I’ll ask the kids to answer math questions in a British or Southern accent just to keep them on their toes. If they work hard, I’ll take them out to recess early and on the first big snow of the year, I took the class out to play in the snow. I use their slang words when they are losing focus. “Class, it’s really sus when you don’t show your work in long-division. If you want to improve your aura and slay this problem, you’re going to have to line up your numbers. Clock it!” At this point in the year, they understand the balance. If they put in the work, we can have fun too. I used to feel like behaviors would get out of control if I was silly. I felt like I had to be strict and serious the majority of the time. Teaching art and working with younger kids seems to have loosened things up. I think travel also helped me have a bit more of a go-with-the-flow attitude.

Choices and Freedom

I have found that the key to getting kids to write more, enjoy writing, and improve their writing is they have to write about what they want. I started the year with a month of just brainstorming ideas and free-writing to build up their stamina and confidence. Now, I’m using Mystery Writing as a loose base for my curriculum, but I’m modifying it so kids have more freedom. Mystery Writing suggests students write a narrative about an Australian adventure. For opinion writing, they were to write a letter to a fictional mayor about opening a skate park. For informative writing, they were all supposed to write about asteroids. The Benchmark curriculum just has them writing about the short excerpts they read. In my class, we’ll cover all the genres and 6-steps, but I’m not forcing kids to write about topics they don’t care about. Right now I’ve got students writing about Autism, Zendaya, axolotls, the immune system, sea turtles, ADHD, Amelia Earhart and more. They also got to vote on names for the plants in our classroom or what we do for class parties. When it’s cold, they get a choice to stay inside or go out for recess. If they finish all their work for the week, they get “Fun Friday” time to play games or draw or just relax. Kids need structure and routine, but they also need opportunities to do what feels right for them. I think I learned this lesson most in Tunisia. Students at ACST had a lot of freedom, especially within the ELA curriculum and I saw firsthand how much more invested they were in their work.

Limited Screen Time

For the most part, my ipads are just collecting dust in my classroom. I am required to use them for some testing, and I have used them a few times for research on PebbleGo or typing final drafts. Otherwise, they just sit there. It seems there are some school districts, for the sake of being “progressive,” who are pushing online curriculums and AI usage for teachers and students. Students are spending a significant amount of their day on screens and rewarded with additional screen time. I’m sure those classrooms are very quiet and calm while kids are glued to screens, but I have zero interest in participating in this tech-revolution. I used to be more open to trying out the latest app or site with students. I also taught during COVID where we had to pivot to online teaching. Last year, I watched my son struggle in math because he was forced to do all his assignments, homework, and tests online. It was extremely frustrating. I’ve also seen changes in student populations over the years. Many kids are coming to us with low motor skills, poor social skills, questionable influences, and little attention spans. It didn’t feel like that when I started teaching back in 2010. But when you know better, you do better. The research is crystal clear. Elementary students should not be on devices all day. They should be interacting with their teachers and their peers. So that’s my rant. I’m stubbornly anti-technology in the hands of kids, and I’m happy to be in a district that backs me up.

No Holding Grudges

I genuinely like the kids in my class, so that makes this one easier. I try my best to not take things personally or hold onto grudges. When kids make a bad choice, I usually chat with them during recess and ask if they know what they did and what they can do better next time. After a brief conversation, I smile and say “okay, go play!” as if nothing ever happened. No lectures. No guilt-trip. No anger or disappointed emotions from me. Mainly, I want them to understand, I still like them. I’m not upset. That doesn’t mean I’m not going to hold them accountable every time. I have clear boundaries for my students and I follow through on consequences, but there will be no power struggle. It’s not me against them. Their actions determine if they have extra freedom and privileges. Their actions determine what I write on the report card or say at conferences. It’s totally up to them what kind of day they have. I’m just there encouraging them to learn and make good choices. I’m on their side, even when they fail. I think with consistent expectations and follow-though, most kids figure it out, but my emotions don’t have to be a part of that equation. I think this lesson was mainly learned through experience and maturity, but Michael Linsin’s book Classroom Management for Art Music and PE Teachers was a game changer as well.

No Homework

This one is pretty self-explanatory, but it’s nice that my school matches my philosophy here. When I started teaching, I used to give quite a bit of homework. I remember it being a constant battle to track down papers, try to hold kids accountable, and communicate with parents. After having my own kids, I realized how difficult it was to squeeze in homework after a long day with after-school activities, dinner, showers, etc. Homework often created tense moments with confusion, exhaustion, and tears. I understand homework can teach responsibility, but my students are only ten years old. They are working in school for 7 hours a day. Don’t they deserve a break and time to just be a kid? Let them have quality time with friends and family! I’m glad homework is no longer part of my teaching practice.

Parent Communication

I’m a bit embarrassed to admit this, but this is the first year I have consistently done a weekly newsletter for parents. I have a template on Canva and I just modify it each week. It only takes me about 15 minutes and then I schedule it to be sent out every Friday at 3:00pm on ParentSquare. I’ve also gotten better about sending little notes to individual families anytime issues pop up. It takes 5 minutes or less to send a message to let a parent know that their child is having a rough day and what I think may be triggering it. When I first started teaching, I think I sugar-coated things too often. Now, with my own children, I wish people would just be real with me. So I try my best to be direct and honest. I have wonderful parents this year, and it’s a nice feeling to have those partnerships. If your kid is falling asleep in class, I’ll let you know. If your kid isn’t understanding a math concept after a week of practice, I’ll let you know. If your kid isn’t acting like their normal self, I’ll let you know. It takes a bit of extra time, but it’s so worth it.

Real Talk and Wisdom

I am almost 40 years old. I have lived, traveled, learned life lessons, made mistakes, and done a lot of introspection and self-improvement in that time. So when it’s appropriate, I try to share bits of wisdom with my students- things I learned in psychology classes, from self-help books, therapy, or just life experiences. This is the first year as a teacher that I have felt this genuine with students- not just putting on a teacher-mask all the time. I think having morning meeting has been huge for opening up this avenue. I also like the Character Strong curriculum we use as a jumping off point for good conversation. I never get into politics, but we do touch on morality, self-discovery, and relationships in a basic, non-spiritual sense. A few examples of life-lessons we’ve covered this year:

  • Meditation is a fantastic tool for your brain and body. It helps ground you to the present moment which does wonders for your nervous system.
  • When people put others down, it’s usually because they are unhappy themselves.
  • Chasing after happiness doesn’t always work. Sometimes it has the opposite effect. Instead, try focusing on gratitude. When you focus on the good things in your life, they tend to grow.
  • The most successful people who have achieved great things, like Olympic athletes, are at the top, not because they are more talented or smarter than other people. Success happens for people who have grit and never give up. Hard work goes farther than natural talent.
  • Be patient and kind to those who don’t speak English as their first language. Being in a place where you don’t speak the language can be scary, frustrating, and exhausting. Try to put yourself in their shoes.
  • All of our brains work in different ways. Something that’s easy for you may be hard for someone else. I used to struggle in math when I was a kid and I’m still not a great speller. That doesn’t mean I’m not smart. We all have our own strengths and challenges. Be kind and don’t judge others.
  • If you ever come across people or content on the internet where someone is saying one group is better than another- this gender is better than that one, that religion is better than the other, this race is better than those other races, etc- it’s not true. They don’t know what they are talking about. We’re all human. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you are better than another person or group.

I’m not sure all of these little conversations will stick, but my kids seem receptive and they ask good questions. I enjoy the times I can be real with my students.

I don’t think I was a “bad” teacher in the past, but I would say I’ve grown a lot since the early days in my career. I’m less rigid now; more relaxed and light-hearted. I have more empathy, perhaps from motherhood or other life-experiences. Teaching used to be my entire personality which is a one-way ticket to burn-out. Now it’s just one part of me. I have healthier boundaries with my job. It is possible to care about my students and also have a life and interests outside of my classroom. Growth is the name of the game. No teacher is perfect, but I think what I’ve learned is that curiosity, reflection, and evolution have finally given me my dream job.

Happy Grilled Cheese Day!

I’ve never been great about family traditions. Rather than stick with the same routines year after year, we tend to switch things up. I love the idea of the families that get new Christmas pajamas every year, or go caroling and drink hot cocoa, or put up lights on their house. Fortunately and unfortunately, we’ve been living abroad off and on, so traditions have been tricky. We’re just not those solid, routine people. This year, however, I think we stumbled upon a winner and it seems worth repeating: Grilled Cheese Day. Good, wholesome, cheesy fun for the whole family!

This started as a conversation with my mom and her husband, Frank, over a podcast about grilled cheese and developed into a competition idea. We set a date on the calendar and gave everyone their assignment: design the perfect grilled cheese sandwich. Our kids, 10 and 13, were in on it too. Even with hundreds of options of bread and cheese combos, there’s really no way to screw it up so they had full artistic license. Our grilled cheese day happened to land the day before Thanksgiving. Planning, shopping for ingredients, and rules were decided upon.

I went first and made a very classic, American grilled cheese- white bread and velveeta. After cooking, plating, and tasting, we took notes and discussed. Consensus was that mine felt nostalgic, melted nicely, and had a good buttery crunch. Everyone secretly rated the sandwich on a score of 1 to 10. However, we didn’t announce scores until the end of the evening. Gotta keep up the suspense.

Next up was Ted. He used brioche bread, brie, baby swiss, and rosemary- a very unique combo. I thought it was a bit too sweet, but my mom loved the rosemary. It was well cooked and the prevailing thought was that it had a wow factor.

Justin went next and used white bread, creamy havarti, and smoked gouda. This one had the best “cheese pull” and tasted great with a creamy, yet smokey flavor. The comment was made that it would be nice with ham or roast beef in the future.

At this point, even with small portions, we were needing a bit of a break so we headed to the living room to enjoy a glass of wine and a movie. Obviously, Wallace and Gromit was the perfect pairing for our made-up holiday. For those unfamiliar with this claymation film, it’s about a man and his dog who run out of cheese so they build a rocket and go to the moon. “Everyone knows the moon’s made out of cheese,” says Wallace. It’s adorable!

Now, back to the action! Frank has had a famous grilled cheese recipe for years. People seem to love it or hate it. Pumpernickel rye bread, Tillamook extra sharp cheddar, stone ground mustard, and dill pickles. It’s tangy, more hearty, very complex, and reminds you of a ruben or cheeseburger without the meat. It was my favorite one of the evening, and Ted’s too. Unfortunately, Penny rated it a 0 and tanked the average. Justin wasn’t a big fan either. Very divisive.

My mom used greyere, munster, and caramelized onions on English muffin bread. If you’ve ever had French Onion soup, it was like that, but a sandwich. Most of us were fans. It was a bit sweet from the onions, but balanced nicely with the cheese choices. 

Last up was Penny. I encouraged her to come up with a “dessert” grilled cheese to end our night on a sweet note. She made French Toast with Brioche and then added raspberry jam and mascarpone cheese, sprinkled with powdered sugar. It was creamy but a little tart and not too sweet. Very yummy, but didn’t really look or feel like grilled cheese which was the only complaint.

After trying each dish, everyone turned in their ratings to Ted and he totaled up the scores and found the average. We decided not to vote for our own so it wouldn’t seem unfair. He did a great job announcing the results starting from last place (sorry Frank!) to our winner, Justin!

Tips To Host Your Own Grilled Cheese Day:

  • It may not be as environmental, but paper plates were a big time saver.
  • Keep the portions small. Each of us only made a couple sandwiches each to split between 6 people.
  • Grapes and wine were a nice palette cleanser between dishes.
  • Take notes to remember your thoughts and help with ratings.
  • It doesn’t have to be grilled cheese day. You could do sandwich day, pasta day, pie day, appetizer day, etc. Just pick and theme and go with it!
  • In the future, a traveling trophy for the winner could be fun.

A Gray Area

It’s far too easy to paint others in categories of “good” or “bad.” Our brains like to compartmentalize, label, and make sense of the world, but I have never met anyone 100% evil and I have never met anyone 100% perfect. Humans are more complex than that. We all have the capacity for both, and often simultaneously. I know I’ve been seen as a villain and at other times a saint, but I am neither.

With that said, I know a few Trump-supporters. Many that I was unaware of seemed to come out of the woodwork with the Charlie Kirk assassination. These are people I know from childhood or college or work. These are people who have generally been kind to me and my family. Some of these people currently work with children in schools and seem to have caring qualities, but it’s quite confusing to hold both notions in my head. The person who helped Penny improve her writing or the person who used to smile at me in the hallway years ago may be supporting hatred and ignorance. I can’t wrap my brain around it.

I hear cheers for Hitler and calls for the resurgence of gas chambers. Source

I hear about 500 tons of food meant for starving people in third-world countries being destroyed. Source

I hear about detaining helpless children in “concentration camp”-like facilities, tearing families apart, and deporting people to countries they’re not even from. Source

I hear about the gutting of the Department of Education and actively taking away support for children with special needs. Source

I hear dangerous misinformation about vaccines and medicine spouted from unqualified people, going against trained doctors and scientists. Source

I hear blatant racism, sexism, and homophobia shrouded in the disguise of “Christianity.” Source

Surely 40% of Americans (the current percentage of Americans who approve of this administration according to The Economist and Gallup) don’t actually support this, do they? Are there decent people who are just stuck on the idea that they are “conservative,” “Republican,” or “Right-wing” to the point that they’ve lost perspective? Is it more important to belong to your chosen group than to question whether or not it matches your true values? The idea of belonging has a powerful pull. We are social creatures. We all want acceptance and love. Does wearing that red MAGA hat scratch that itch? It gives you a group; and a powerful one at that. I don’t know. Maybe I’m totally off-base here, but I have a hard time believing that 40% of us are just full of hatred. Am I wrong? Am I too naive?

Personally, I find the current president and his cronies to be an embarrassment to this country: the late-night incoherent tweets, the rambling speeches of obvious lies, the attempt to silence anyone who opposes them, the policies and decisions that put people’s lives at risk, the sickening amount of evidence of breaking the law. It’s absurd.

But here’s what gives me hope- I know people who have switched sides. I know people who voted for Trump’s first term that didn’t vote for a second. There are well-known Republicans who openly oppose Trump. There are people who have lost their jobs or been negatively affected by these policies who are jumping ship. Not all, but some people are waking up, and that takes courage, self-examination, and admitting you made a mistake. That takes strength. Change is hard and I hope, rather than saying “I told you so!”- we can say, “thank you for questioning, thank you for looking within, thank you for risking your belonging!” The MAGA movement has many qualities that appear very cult-like to me, and overcoming brainwashing is a difficult task. I just hope that those caught up in extremism of any kind can get their wake-up call. 

Inclusion, kindness, equality, taking care of eachother- all those “liberal” ideas- they are the opposite of extreme. I feel confident I’m on the right-side of history, but I suppose those on the Right feel confident they are also correct. I guess my challenge would be: if your side promotes Nazis, violence, racism, bigotry, authoritarianism and fascism….you may want to do some reflection.

And maybe read a history book. 

***For those who end up reading this and disagree with my views, I am open to respectful dialogue. I am curious about your thoughts. However, I am not open to spreading misinformation or hatred so if that’s the goal, I won’t engage.

Images from the October 18, 2025 No Kings protest in Lawrence, Kansas.

Cursive, Corn, and Jerry, the Aloe Vera Plant

Reporting back after about a month back in the classroom- The short answer is: it’s a mixed bag- highs and lows, but I am so incredibly grateful to be there! Overall, I love being a teacher again and I feel like out of my 13 years on the job, this is the strongest I’ve been. Being able to experience 3 different schools, different grade levels, and different curriculums and philosophies has given me a wider perspective and I understand the bigger picture better than ever. 

And 5th Graders are my favorite! Don’t get me wrong- I loved those sweet little kindergarten babies last year, but this is where I belong- reading chapter books, teaching the love of writing, and being able to make jokes that they actually understand. It’s fantastic, or as my students would say, “it’s lit.” Actually, that might be too old of a reference at this point. The slang is hard to keep up with these days which is why I instituted “Mrs. Peavey’s Vocabulary Lessons.” Every Friday, the kids teach me a new word or phrase. Obviously, I have to immediately look it up to make sure it’s appropriate, but it’s been fun to let them be my teacher. Plus, they get a huge kick out of it when I use my new slang words.

I also let them name all the plants in the room. It was a very serious democratic process, involving narrowing down votes until we had the perfect ones. “Jerry” is our Aloe Vera plant. “Tom Sawyer” is the spider plant that resides above the classroom library shelves, and of course, we have a “Travis,” in a nod to our beloved Chiefs player.

Anyway, here are the highlights- the people and things that make the job the best:

The Families

I was very resistant to making an Amazon wishlist for my classroom because I was clinging to this idealized world where we shouldn’t have to do that, damnit!  None of us, parents or teachers, should be pouring this much money into education when it should be fully funded by the government.  Alas, that’s not the world I’m living in. So, I made one, and man, oh man, was I blown away by the generosity I received! Parents I had never even met were purchasing items for our class. I received box after box for my classroom- snacks, markers, file folders, a diffuser with lavender oil, organizational items, office supplies, fidgets, a calendar, and more! One parent even brought me a comfy chair for our cozy corner. People really showed up. Besides the relief and gratitude for the functionality of the items, it made me feel supported and loved. These parents are the best!

An Old-School Resurgence

No school or district is perfect. There are a handful of things I have to shake my head at (more on that later).  There are a few things, however, Lawrence is doing that I wholeheartedly agree with. 1) We are officially teaching cursive again. They purchased the Handwriting Without Tears curriculum and we get 15 minutes a day to dedicate to handwriting. My students are excited about it and working hard to form their letters correctly. What they don’t fully realize is that by learning this, they are forming new pathways in their brains and a lost art is coming back into the world. Studies show, pen and paper outweighs typing when it comes to learning and retaining new information. And that brings me to 2) The district has come out with a policy limiting the use of student screen time. Kindergarten through second grade will not be using ipads except for assessments. Third Grade can use devices for a maximum of 30 minutes a day and Fourth and Fifth are limited to an hour per day. I remember they asked me about technology during my interview and I gave what I thought could have been construed as a controversial answer. I don’t want kids on ipads and Chromebooks. Sure, there are great tools for research, learning apps, engaging content and interactive ways to learn. Plus, I’ve used Google Classroom, especially during the Covid days. It makes everything super organized and easy to manage. There’s software that will grade everything for you and design lessons with the click of a button… but at what cost? Our kids are addicted to screens. Their social skills and attention spans are suffering. Rates of depression, anxiety, and behavioral disorders are on the rise. I am worried about this generation and I do not want to contribute to the problem. I can’t help it if kids are going home and spending hours on a device. Lord knows I’m not perfect. I’m battling those same temptations with my own children. But when my students are at school with me, they will not be staring at an ipad screen for hours on end. In fact, I’ve only used the student ipads twice this year and that was to take an assessment required by the district. In my classroom, we will be reading books made from paper, writing in composition notebooks, talking face to face with one another, and playing outside.

The Staff

My school is full of stellar teachers and support staff. The office staff bends over backwards to get us what we need. The specials team is top notch. We finally hired a learning coach and she has been working so hard to get us up to speed. She is responsive, organized, and knows the school well. We also got a SPED teacher and, although she’s only been with us for about a week, I can tell she has the kids’ best interest at heart. The paras at our school are professional, kind, good with kids, and intuitive to our needs. They actually had zero turnover for paras this year which is unheard of. It’s been a bumpy start to the year, but the staff has handled every twist and turn with grace, kindness, and humor.

The Kids

Of course, the best (and most challenging part) of the job is the kids and I’ve got 22 great ones this year- a whole cast of characters! For confidentiality, I can’t share the stories, but trust me, I’ve got some good ones. These students crack me up daily. I’m pretty sure I’ve got some future authors, environmentalists, scientists, therapists, and maybe even some teachers. Some are so sweet and innocent. Others are like 18 year olds stuck in 5th Grade bodies. They are enthralled with our current novel. They were delighted when I shared a video of Roman ruins in Tunisia. They were fascinated when I told them about visiting Anne Frank’s house in the Netherlands. They ask great questions. Some are incredibly kind. Some are passionate; writing a persuasive letter to the principal asking for more recess time or starting a “Save the Planet” club. And I’m there, cheering them on and encouraging them to pursue their interests and be their best self. Some, I can give lots of freedom. Some need more hand-holding. And some need consistency and tough-love. But that’s the beauty of this profession: interacting with the kids, making all those split-second decisions to get through the day in a positive way, and balancing all those personalities and needs. It’s an art and a science.

But… This wouldn’t be honest if I said it’s all sunshine and rainbows. This school/district definitely has its challenges.  I’ll try to keep it brief.

  • I’ve got some feelings about the Benchmark ELA curriculum. My first unit is about…. CORN- I am not kidding you… 3 weeks reading and writing about corn. Who at Benchmark decided that was a good idea? I can not imagine a single 10 year old who is going to be interested in learning about this. Kids want to learn about the Titanic, Ancient Egypt, dinosaurs, and Harry Houdini… not corn. Also, the district spent serious money on this curriculum, but every teacher I’ve talked to says you have to either make or buy supplemental materials to make it work. Most teachers in the district buy slides and worksheets from the TeachersPayTeachers website. There just isn’t enough time to make materials to fix the curriculum.
  • The Social Studies curriculum isn’t much better. Well, it’s nonexistent. My first unit is supposed to be about Native Americans, but there aren’t any lessons or materials provided. A fourth grade teacher was nice enough to send us a PowerPoint slideshow and there are a couple of old, dry articles linked on the pacing guide. There are some picture books in the school library as well. So it’s up to us to figure out how to teach this in a culturally sensitive and accurate way. I think I’ve figured it out now, but that’s no thanks to the district.
  • I was told to give the LETRS spelling screener to my class which gives great data, but there are 2 tests and they take about 2 hours to grade, using a special template for each student. After spending evenings grading the inventories, I then had to use the scores to determine spelling groups. The district uses a program called Words Their Way which I like and have used before, but here’s the kicker- The LETRS screener doesn’t correlate to Words Their Way. Words Their Way has their own screener to use with their program, but I was told to use something different that doesn’t work with the program they bought. Just one of the many ways we seem to make this job more complicated than necessary.
  • I am now on principal #3 for the year. I was hired by one principal before he moved to a Middle School position. Then I was introduced to an interim principal who worked with our school until Labor Day. Now we’ve got a new interim principal until they start the hiring process for a permanent person who will be principal #4 for the year. For a new teacher to the school with a completely new team (all three 5th Grade teachers are new) the leadership situation has not been ideal.

Like I said, no school is perfect. I’ve been doing this long enough to know how to follow what the district wants while still doing what’s best for kids. I like my job. I like staying busy and I like feeling like I’m doing important work. This summer I got a letter from a former student and it helped solidify my “why.” I’m exactly where I need to be right now and, despite the chaos, this feels like home.

Back to School

The culture shock is real! It’s been 5 years since I’ve taught at an American public school, and man, has it been a rude awakening stepping back into this role. 

You know the episode of 30 Rock, where Jack Donaghy leaves the corporate world of GE to go work for the Government? He points out a leak in the roof and they say, “There’s no leak. We did a study.” They have no pens and when they finally order some, they open the box to find only pen caps. It’s understaffed, disorganized, and literally falling apart.

Coming back from the education world in Tunisia and the Netherlands, I’m feeling a bit like Jack Donaghy right about now. Overseas, my classroom had a couch, laps desks, technology, school supplies, seat sacks, boxes, plenty of furniture, and a huge classroom library that I didn’t provide. I spent less than $20 on bulletin board decor and I was ready to go.

In comparison, I walked into my new classroom this summer and it was barren. No bookshelf, no hanging file folders in the filing cabinet, no student whiteboards, no seat sacks, no student mailboxes, no boxes for organization, no books, no decor, no timers, no markers or pens. Each student gets one paper folder and is bringing one spiral notebook. How in the world am I supposed to get through the school year with one folder and one notebook? Last week, I was also told I must have a “cozy corner” in my room for students with a comfy chair, fidgets, and posters. Who’s paying for that? Me, I guess…

Do we ask nurses to pay for medicine and bandages for their patients? Do we ask IT techs to pay for their own computers? Do we ask firefighters to provide their own ladder and hose? No, we don’t. And yet, no one blinks an eye when teachers are asked to shell out hundreds of dollars to make their rooms functional and aesthetically pleasing. I’ve already spent close to $500 on my classroom and that’s just to get it up and running- nothing fancy. I bought table caddies, plastic boxes for storage, books, a rolling cart, a dry erase calendar, bulletin border, student mailboxes, seat sacks, desk organization, a bookshelf, hanging file folders, push pins, sharpies, and a laptop bag. The school didn’t provide any of the things I assumed were basic necessities.  And now, I guess I’m on the lookout for a comfy chair for my cozy corner.

I wish the lack of funding was my only issue, but unfortunately, there’s more. I am on a team of three and all three of us are new to the district. We also have a new interim principal. I was supposed to be assigned a mentor teacher to help answer questions, but that hasn’t happened yet. The building is also supposed to have a learning coach. Do we have one? Again- no. I send emails asking questions and they go unanswered. My roster has changed multiple times. The schedule changes daily. I print out my class name tags and schedule again and again, just to throw them in the recycling bin every time because we can’t seem to pin it down. I don’t currently have access to the online reading curriculum and the student handwriting workbooks are useless because they are too advanced. I sit through Professional Development training sessions and meetings that don’t actually tell me anything I need to know. My list of questions just grows and grows. For example, on Friday, I realized I didn’t even know where the playground was. No one had ever shown me. I don’t know what dismissal looks like or a fire drill or how to do lunch count or use my TV or how to implement their discipline policy. And did I mention, I’m meeting students and parents tomorrow…

But here’s the deal. I want this. Through all the frustration, I am excited. I can’t wait to meet my kids. As the superintendent said during our new teacher orientation, “This job has never been harder, but it has also never been more important.” I got to see the other side of teaching. After 12 years in the classroom, I took 2 years off. At first, it was amazing. I could go to the bathroom whenever I wanted. I didn’t think about work at the end of the day. If I was sick, I didn’t have to write sub plans. I was well rested and fairly stress-free. But it took a toll on me in other ways. I didn’t feel creative anymore. I wasn’t problem-solving and using my brain in the same way. I wasn’t emotionally connecting with coworkers or students. I didn’t have interesting stories anymore. And the thing that bothered me the most was that I didn’t feel like I was making a difference in the world. I missed teaching. I missed human connection and creativity.

So here I am, back in the American public school system. There’s little to no money. There’s little to no support. The kids have high needs academically, emotionally, and socially. The kids I’m teaching this year, missed out on their Kindergarten year due to Covid. But we are going to get through it together. We’ll form our little classroom family. I’ll share my favorite books with them. I’ll listen to their stories. We’ll laugh and dance and play together. Maybe someday, we’ll even get that cozy corner figured out! It will be messy and human and difficult and wonderful. 

Reach out to the teachers you know and send them your words of encouragement (or maybe some cash!). They have been working long nights and weekends to get ready for this school year. And wish me luck getting over my culture shock and getting back in the groove of being an American teacher. Deep breaths. We’ve got this!

Part 2: Gratitude

If you didn’t get a chance to read Part 1, here’s the gist- My husband and I are DODEA (Department of Defense Education Activity) employees and his position as SPED Assessor was recently cut. Just as we were feeling settled, we learned that it’s abruptly coming to an end without us getting to finish the contract we were promised. With a month left of the school year, it’s going to be a mad dash to pack, move back to Kansas and get new jobs.

I’ve felt shock, anger, sadness, and anxiety since we received the news. But interspersed with that, I also feel grateful. I know how lucky we are that we had this opportunity. Many well-qualified, passionate educators try for years to get into DODEA schools and never even get an interview. We got to live in Europe for a year and we experienced a lot. Now, instead of focusing on the negatives, I’d rather focus my energy on gratitude. Here’s my current list of blessings from our year in the Netherlands:

1) Travel

It is so much easier and cheaper to travel around Europe compared to America. We went to a zoo-hotel in Belgium to sleep next to bears for my birthday. We wandered around Christmas Markets in Germany and France, sipping mulled wine. We walked through Anne Frank’s hidden living quarters in Amsterdam. We explored the ruins of Pompeii and ate local food, grown in the rich soil of Mount Vesuvius. We heard the church bells ringing in Sorrento, Italy when the Pope died. We have seen and walked and listened and tasted culture and history.

2) Back To My Teaching Roots

This year has reinvigorated my love of teaching, something I thought I had lost. Teaching is a job that can easily burn you out and I’ve felt that. Especially when I was battling my own demons, pouring love and attention into a classroom was hard. After teaching in Tunisia, I took two years off from the profession. I got a job working from home, sitting in front of a computer, writing emails and reports, joining Teams meetings, and enjoying my new-found flexibility. However, even though I worked for a great institution, I always felt like something was missing. I didn’t feel like I was making a difference in the world anymore and I didn’t feel like I was using my brain as much either. I’m forever grateful for that break. I know I needed it, but when we got to the Netherlands and I was thrown into a Kindergarten classroom, something clicked. I was making split second decisions again. The kids made me laugh every day. I easily got 10,000 steps a day without even trying. I felt fulfilled seeing the students learning and growing. I felt like I was in my element, doing what I was trained to do. I realized I missed this. If we wouldn’t have gotten the call to move abroad, I’d probably still be in my stay-at-home job. I had no plans to quit. I would have missed meeting these tiny, wonderful people and I wouldn’t have realized that I am much happier in education. I have healed and I am more than ready to take on my own classroom again.

3) A Great Year For My Kids

Teddy and Penny both adapted quickly to our new school and location and made friends. Ted got the lead role in the Middle School Musical and it was the highlight of the year. He blew us away with his talent. I have never felt prouder to be sitting in the audience, smiling from ear to ear, watching my kid shine. There was also an Elementary musical and Penny had a blast participating in that. Bravo to the music/theater teachers who make school magical! Teddy also got to go on a week-long sailing trip this May and came back with lots of stories and new skills. Penny learned to play the ukulele and got really into songwriting this year. Ted joined a cooking club and has started helping out more with making dinner. We read multiple novels together, had lots of chill movie nights, tried new food, traveled, and just generally spent lots of time as a family.

4) Gluten in Europe

Justin has been forced to eat a gluten-free diet for years. It’s an inconvenience and a downer when he can’t eat some of his old favorite foods. Before moving to the Netherlands, he did some research and found that there are many people who are typically gluten-free in America, but are able to eat gluten in Europe. Please don’t ask me because I don’t understand all the science behind it. It has something to do with Europe using ancient grains that have not been genetically modified, so many people don’t have the same issues they do in the States. Well, low and behold, we arrived and Justin slowly started introducing pastries, bread, pasta, and beer and he found that amazingly it was true. No pain, gastrointestinal issues, headaches, etc. In general, we have found that even their junk food here is healthier. They just have more regulations on food- less chemicals, dyes, and processing than in America. It’s been a game-changer!

5) Walkability

This is a little thing, but I love it. Our house in the Netherlands is within walking distance to our school, restaurants, shops, a park, and a grocery store. Every Saturday morning, Justin and I walk through the park, past the ducks, to a little coffee shop for breakfast and lattes. I find myself making excuses to go to the grocery store multiple times throughout the week just because I enjoy the trip and the exercise. And I used to hate grocery shopping! I love the culture of walking and biking everywhere. I will definitely miss our convenient, relaxed life here.

6) Healthcare

We went to a doctor in Germany for our medical care while abroad. I was surprised by the differences of treatment here compared to the US. For my preliminary visit, the doctor did an EKG, a lung capacity test, urine and stool sample, took 12 vials of blood to test a variety of things, took my blood pressure, and did an ultrasound of all my internal organs. It was the most thorough doctor’s appointment I’ve ever had. Then I had a follow up appointment with a radiologist to take a closer look at my thyroid and a mammogram. Happy to report, I got the all clear. It wasn’t outrageously priced and it’s the most confident I’ve ever felt that if there was something to find, they would find it. I was impressed. To clarify, this is not a critique of American doctors. I just think the healthcare system in America is so bogged down with red tape, insurance denying claims, and a political system that is so heavily focused on money that it hinders what can be done.

Looking back, it’s been a lovely year. I thought this chapter would last a bit longer, but I’m starting to accept it for what it is- a happy little blip in our life that helped us grow. I will miss the Netherlands, but I’m ready to get back to loved ones, my own classroom, American appliances*, good coffee, food, and sunshine. Grateful for the opportunity but ready to move forward.

*Our toaster can’t fit a full slice of bread, our washing machine only takes a handful of clothes at a time, and our oven can’t even fit a sheet pan. European appliances are weirdly small.

Our European Adventure Coming to an End?

Part 1

We had a feeling this was coming. Since Trump took office, we’ve read about Federal programs and jobs being slashed left and right with no consideration of the impact to individual lives.  We’ve read about threats to Special Education and the defunding of education in general. We were especially afraid in February and March this year that our jobs were in jeopardy, even though we were reassured nothing would happen. We played along with Elon’s absurd 5-bullet points email, sending in a weekly report of our value that no one ever read. *(Of course I had to be snarky about this. If you’d like to read what I emailed each week, scroll to the bottom.) We lived in a state of unlimited contingency plans, wondering if we should start packing or job searching. We even sold one of our cars in case we had to leave in a hurry. But, by April, we began to relax. We thought, since we are affiliated with the military, maybe we’d be safe and get to finish our contract. Well, on Friday, May 23rd and with a month left of the school year, Justin received an email that his position was being cut. All Special Education and Speech Assessor as well as Educational Technologist positions throughout all of DODEA schools will be cut. We felt like the rug had been pulled out beneath us and we are still processing what it means.

From what we understand, we basically have two options. 1) Accept leaving and move back to Kansas, hopefully get our possessions shipped back, and start looking for new jobs. Or 2) Have HR assign us another job within DODEA. Justin is currently the SPED Assessor but he is qualified in many areas and could transfer to a SPED or other teaching position. However, we have only been with DODEA for 1 year. We have very low seniority compared to the other displaced employees recently cut. We could be shipped off to a location we don’t want or they could not find an open position that he could fill. With the extremely slow processing times, we might not find out if we had a job until July or August. It’s been alluded to that there are not enough open positions to go around so it’s not looking great.

We are leaning toward Option 1: Move back home and start over. To be completely honest, we were considering leaving after our 2 year contract anyway. This year, I lost both of my grandmothers. In a strange turn of events, it happened within the same week. I found out that my mom’s mother had passed and booked a flight home to Kansas. When the first leg of my flight landed in Atlanta, I learned that my dad’s mother passed as well. I spent two weeks in Kansas, hopping between my mom’s house and my dad’s house. I went through old photographs, reminisced with family, spent slow mornings sipping tea and having deep conversations, ate great food, and even got to catch up a bit with friends. There was some jet lag, some tears, and I annoyingly caught COVID, but I wouldn’t trade those 2 weeks for anything. I needed it more than I knew. I know it sounds cliche, but it just felt like home. It was healing and so good for my soul to be back around the people I love. Traveling around Europe is great, but it was being back in Kansas with my friends and family, sitting around doing nothing at all that really made me feel whole. It took the death of my grandmas and that visit to realize that my priorities had changed. Justin and I agreed that money and travel just don’t compare with being around loved-ones. We miss them and we want to nurture those relationships in a way that can’t be done from overseas. And I want my children to have fond and frequent memories with their grandparents too. They love trips to the pool, baking cookies, helping with the gardens, and sharing meals with their grandparents. I don’t want a job to stand in the way of that.

We also realized after our arrival in the Netherlands that this place isn’t ideal for our kids as they get older. Finding a job for teenagers in the Netherlands would be nearly impossible since our kids don’t speak Dutch and there aren’t really jobs on the American or NATO bases for teens. Some kids bag groceries at the Commissary, but they only work for tips. It’s not an actual paid position. Mostly they just sit in the corner, staring at their phones while everyone goes through the self-checkout. Kind of sad. Then there’s the fact that a Dutch driver’s license is very difficult to get and the legal driving age is 18 years old. Our kids wouldn’t have those formative life-experiences of driving and having a job before going off to college. That just doesn’t seem fair. And the cherry on top is that, although we like our school, they are seriously lacking in the Electives department for High Schoolers- no art and no theater. I am a huge advocate for the arts and I have seen my kids thrive participating in arts programs. I want to encourage them to develop their skills and love of visual and performing arts and that would be difficult here.

However, I would have liked to finish our 2 year contract in the Netherlands. I feel like we just got settled. I had visions of next school year, feeling more confident in our location and checking more items off our bucket list. We already had flights, a hotel, and activities booked for a trip to Scotland next October to celebrate Justin’s 40th birthday. My mom and her husband were planning to visit next Spring to explore Portugal and Spain. I guess that won’t be happening.

But I have to keep reminding myself that we will be okay no matter what happens. We have a great support system. We kept our house in Kansas. We are well-qualified professionals. It’s going to be okay. And we were lucky to have this experience in Europe, even if it was cut short. Part 2 of this post is all about that- looking at the bright side and reflecting on what we’ve been able to accomplish this year. Stay tuned.

My 5 Bullet Points Email to DOGE. I sent the same thing week after week:

Monschau, Germany

This past weekend, for Justin’s birthday, we visited the quaint town of Monschau, Germany, about an hour away from where we live. Out of all the nearby places we traveled to, this was one of our favorites. The city center is dotted with the traditional timber-framed houses with the dark wooden beams and narrow cobblestone streets. It has a very medieval German feel and looks like something straight out of a fairy tale. If you ever get the chance to visit, here’s an outline of how we spent our day which was near-perfect.

We started our day with a chilly 15-minute walk to a glass studio called Glashutte Monschau. Unfortunately, our coats are still in our shipment, so we weren’t dressed for the 40 degree weather. We managed though. We were very relieved to find the glass blowing demonstration area, which was nice and warm. We sat down for a while and watched the artists work. It was mesmerizing to watch the red hot glass blob get slowly shaped into a beautiful vase. The highlight of this place was that kids can go up to the stove to help blow a glass orb. Teddy got to choose his colors and blow into the tube to inflate the glass. About 10 minutes later, we came back to his cooled purple and green plant-watering bulb. It was only 5 euros for the experience and glass piece, a pretty great deal in my opinion. After we paid for Teddy’s piece, we toured the gallery and purchased a few little figurines and a mug for Justin.

By this point the kids were hungry, so we headed back to a cute restaurant we had seen earlier, Cafe Thelen. The look of this place and the menu itself were very “typical German.” As it was only about 11:40, we were the first ones in the restaurant and had no problem securing a table. I ordered a hot passionfruit tea to warm up and had some delicious tagliatelle pasta in cream sauce. Justin got a sort of pot roast with potatoes and Penny had schnitzel with fries.

Next up was shopping and exploring the city center. I checked off my must-purchase item, a Monschau magnet to add to our collection. Next we stumbled upon a tiny, crowded hat shop. It was small but well stocked with knit clothing, gloves, scarves, and of course hats. Justin bought a new plaid newsboy cap. Penny got a pastel rainbow beanie, and Teddy and I got super warm gloves. From there, we wandered in and out of more shops. We even got a head start on Christmas shopping. I’ll never pass up a local hand-made gift when I see it.

One of the specialties of the area is their mustard mill. The Historische Senfmühle is a bit off the beaten path, out of the city center, but it’s worth a visit. It was built in 1882 and has been owned by the same family for generations. They make their mustard manually between old millstones, just like the old times. There you can try flavors like English Curry, Honey Poppy Seed, Fig, Beer, Tarragon, and Wild Herbs with Garlic. Of course we had to come home with a jar.

We ended our visit with another little walk and a stop at a pastry shop for some coffee and sweets. I chose a pastry filled with cream and cherries and it was perfectly flakey and delicious. If we would have had more time and energy, I would have hiked up to the lookout to see the gorgeous view of the town from above. I’m sure the pictures would have been breathtaking, but we’ll have to save that for our next visit. I’m sure we’ll be back!

Extra Tips:

  • I would recommend parking on the street rather than in the parking garage unless you have a very small vehicle. We had some stressful moments trying to get in and out of our parking space in the garage.
  • Be sure to have a few euro coins on you for using public restrooms. They are not free.
  • I would reorder our events by starting with the mustard store, then shopping, followed by lunch and end with the glass blowing studio. That’s what makes the most sense geographically so you are retracing your steps like we did.
  • Definitely get there by 10am or a little earlier to ensure you get parking and get to enjoy the views with less tourists crowding the streets. It seems to get busier and busier as the day wears on.