“Think Cold” reads the title of Marilyn Singer’s first poem about Humboldt Penguins, creatures who inhabit the hot, dry coastal deserts of Peru and Chile in her 2012 collection: A Strange Place To Call Home: The World’s Most Dangerous Habitats& The Animals That Call Them Home.  Although, “newly published poetry collection” and “State Standards” seem to be phrases at odds, bright teachers and children show how creativity lives among the standards.  Are you a parent or teacher worried that newly adopted public school learning standards will crush our children’s spirit a

CABE’s executive director, Robert Rader recently gave me the opportunity to attend the annual CABE/CAPPS Convention as a Workingmother.com representative. This past summer I had discussed my column with Bob at the gym which we frequent along with many other teachers, principals, and board of education members in Glastonbury, Connecticut.  With all of these interesting professionals to speak with, I am seldom at a loss for ideas for my articles. Aside from their children’s personal safety and happiness, there is nothing that parents care more about than education.

Believe or not, being available for others is something that does not come natural to me.  I have to work at it!  What is ironic is that I use to think that I was of service to others.  The reality was that I would make myself available if I wanted to, it was convenient or if it was going to be recognized for my service.   If it didn't meet one of the criteria; I had excuses abound as to why I wasn't available. 

There is something about the holiday season that prompts us to open our wallets and hearts to give to a charitable organization. Maybe it's related to the gratefulness that we feel when surrounded by a loving family in a warm home. Or maybe it's that the looming end to the tax year encourages us to meet the charitable contribution deduction limits. Whatever the reason, the season of giving is almost here.

 First, if you were impacted by Hurricane Sandy and the Nor’easter that followed in any way, my thoughts and prayers

As we began to return to the semi-normal pace of life this week after the storm(s), I realized that I was WAY behind in my holiday shopping (meaning I hadn't even begun to THINK about it). As I opened the spreadsheet from last year (yes, I do keep a spreadsheet...), something just didn't sit right with me. How could we spend money on relatively thoughtful but truly unnecessary items for friends and family when so many around us had lost so much?

Q: What do you do in your new job, mommy?

A: Well, I’m with an organization called Samaritan’s Purse and I serve as the NW Regional Manager for Operation Christmas Child.

Q: Yeah, but what do you actually do?

A: I manage a network of volunteers that spans several states. My job is to recruit, select, equip, and lead this network of volunteers with the end in mind of having those leaders multiply themselves and develop even more volunteer leaders.

Serving as a member of a board of education for a public school is not an elementary volunteer post. Most parents would prefer to volunteer serving food and beverages at sporting events, instead of spending time making decisions which other parents and taxpayers may or may not agree upon. Most sports fans happily thank the volunteers as they devour their delicious slices of fresh baked pie, but may not thank the board of education members, whose votes will impact taxes in order to improve the public school’s sports programs.

Before embarking on a mini-reading-research project, I brought my narrative-loving two year old to high school for two twenty minute visits.  I ultimately want create something unique, but of value to other educators and parents.

Skeletons abound this time of year, but what about our own bones?  How can we keep our bones healthy aside from consuming Calcium rich foods and beverages? This summer I learned a valuable lesson about bones from Dr. Jamie Lemeck of Glastonbury Chiropractic. I have been a patient at this office for the past seven years, where they take excellent care of my spine, which sometimes endures up to seventy miles of pounding per week, depending on what event I am training for. This past summer I noticed a sharp pain in my foot after jumping off the side of a swimming pool.