Editorials

10/16/16

God Doesn’t Care About Your Last Name

Whenever I write or talk about why I kept my last name after marriage, I’m always prepared for the negative flood of comments and opinions, and in fact, I do enjoy it to an extent. I think it’s important to talk about topics with people who don’t necessarily understand or agree with you, because honestly, if we all knew everything and thought exactly the same way, how boring would life be?

As an educator and lover of learning, I embrace these discussions and am always open to hearing different points of views as I understand that my perspective is just that – mine. It’s not right, wrong, better, or worse – it’s just mine.

I often talk (or write) about a memorable quote from a favorite high school teacher: “Different doesn’t mean better or worse, it just means different.” I strive to live and remember this every day, though for some reason when the topic arises of keeping your last name in marriage, many people are unable to respond in the light of this illuminating quote.

10/9/16

Why Breastfeeding in Public Is Gross

As I’m approaching the third trimester of my second pregnancy, my mind is focused on all the joys and excitement of new baby – how they just lay there, wherever you put them, all day for you to stare at them in complete awe and amazement. How their skin is so delicate that when you touch them, you can barely tell you’re touching anything. How their little cheeks are like half-baked biscuits, all fresh and sweet and warm. It also makes me excited that I’ll have another babe to breastfeed.

I nursed Ginny for 15-months, and while it was an emotional choice leading up to the end, it was ultimately the right and best time for her, and all in all, it was surprisingly an easy transition. While I’m getting mentally and emotionally prepared to enter the wonderful world of breastfeeding again, it made me reflect on others’ views on this subject, because the way and where I feed my child is completely open for public debate, right? I was reading up on the topic and came up with my top reasons why breastfeeding in public is gross.

09/14/16

Why I Never Dreamed of My Wedding

I hear it from young girls, from high schoolers, from women who are engaged – it’s usually the same thing that goes something like this: “I always imagined my wedding would be like…,” or some variation to this extent. Since we were little, girls envision their perfect fairy tale wedding, imagining what their dress will look like, the flowers, cake, dancing, and all the lovely glittering details of the celebration. They create mental Pinterest boards of their special day until they’re old enough to make an actual and probably secret Pinterest board to organize the pretty little details of their future nuptials.

By the time he or she pops the question, that sparkly ring secured on your finger, the last piece of the puzzle is finally in place, and you can put your long-awaited plan to action.