“Chaser, run faster,” my coach had always said with his whistle ready to blow it whenever he pleased. I was running fast, just not fast enough, at least that’s what Coach thought. I could never please him and I hated him for that. I also hated him because my last name was Chesser, which IContinue reading “Chaser, Run Faster”
Tag Archives: children
Obama and the Mole
An obsession always begins with something small. His was very small and he was really, or at least it seemed so at the time, the only one who noticed it. “There, right there, don’t you see it?” he would point and yell whenever he saw the man whom I revered. I would look at it,Continue reading “Obama and the Mole”
Then I See Red
Purple seems a state of grace. Cloaked in it, the world around you bleeds with creativity and honor. A smile isn’t just a smile, it’s a perspective. I see myself as someone I am. A struggle becomes a path, an enemy, a friend. Then I see red. Nothing in between. Just red. My goal has alwaysContinue reading “Then I See Red”
International Day of the Girl
Today my daughter spoke to a group of middle schoolers about bullying. She had originally created an anti-bullying campaign for the elementary students at her school. When the principal of the middle school saw the posters and asked her to speak to the middle schoolers, this ten-year-old girl spoke passionately about standing up for yourself andContinue reading “International Day of the Girl”
Venezuela’s Avatars Remind Us to Vote
Sometimes our heroes live under the ground, having never even been written about. Sometimes our heroes live so far from us, we don’t even know who they are. Sometimes these heroes are just walking along the streets that no one else will walk. Sometimes our heroes need us to be heroes, speaking up, supporting them.Continue reading “Venezuela’s Avatars Remind Us to Vote”
The Little Christian Who Thinks He’s Jewish
With Yom Kippur coming up this Wednesday, my son reminds me that this teacher planning day is a Jewish holiday. He says, “Memember?” tugging on my shirt, looking up at me. Yes, I thought, I do. I remember it all. How could I ever forget? When he was turning four years old, I searched forContinue reading “The Little Christian Who Thinks He’s Jewish”
To all the writers, artists, and colorful characters:
You are all crazy-wonderful artists, but you know this already. Because I teach fulltime and I’m obviously a mom, I’ve tried to reply to every comment, but it takes time. I’ve also tried to explore your blogs and follow some of them. But, that also takes time just like writing, at least for me. ForContinue reading “To all the writers, artists, and colorful characters:”
A Few Sounds Later
Her notes struck the incessant thoughts from my brain. Each punch on the keys left me thinking only of the beauty the world had to offer, the drops of rain hitting the pool, the light touch of a butterfly. I know when I’ve lost our fights because my daughter looks away from me, sits, andContinue reading “A Few Sounds Later”