The Musings of a Latte Queen: Narratives of Everyday Life

There is something that has really been bothering me lately as we get into the full swing of this school year. Yesterday, I joined hundreds of other parents at the Kirkwood High School Open House and Meet-the-Teacher Day. We were parents of freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior students. There was an opportunity to join the Mother's Club, the PTO, and the Pioneer Boosters as well as any of the other clubs supporting the arts. We were able to purchase planners, yearbooks, and buzz books. Cookies and punch was provided by the PTO (I know because I brought in 4 dozen yesterday morning myself). Everything was very organized and orderly and while there was a crowd, it was easy to navigate. The administrators as well as grade level principals were introduced at the assembly about an hour after the open house. These same professionals were on hand to help lost parents find the right building or classroom. In addition to the faculty and staff, there were also student groups such ...

The death of Senator Edward M. "Teddy" Kennedy rests heavily on my mind this morning. I think it is hitting me that an entire generation is leaving us. His sister, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, passed away two weeks ago. Michael Jackson died two months ago today. Senator Kennedy spoke so powerfully, hopefully, and eloquently, despite his failing health, just one year ago today. Life, time, generations are fleeting. Senator Kennedy had been a force in the U.S. Senator for longer than my 45 years. I essentially grew up hearing his Boston accent, seeing that signature head of thick hair, and coming to love him for how much he reminded me of my dad. My father was a few years older than Senator Kennedy. They both had that deep, commanding voice, that head full of thick hair, that fuller than life face, those strong shoulders to hold up the cause of their lives. I miss them both. One of the things that Senator Kennedy fought for his entire life was health care as a right a...

Moving is an opportunity to review, reflect, and renew. We spent the afternoon negotiating between bigger bedrooms and closets or bigger bathrooms and kitchen. We looked into nooks and crannies, opened doors, measured, walked, contemplated, all in the quest to find the next place to live. St. Louis has been our home for the last couple years. We looked at everything from lofts in downtown to condos in Chesterfield. We explored Lafayette Square, the Central West End, Tower Grove/Shaw Park, and various West County Suburbs all in that hunt for the perfect location. There is no perfect location. Moving is a series of negotiations between those things we absolutely need in a residence/location versus the things we want. It becomes a check and balance along with the review of all the stuff we own. Moving is not fun for all the work required to pack and sort, label and tape, lift and load. It is a process that needs muscle, brains, creativity, and lots of energy bars. I am no...

I thought I would be running through the house doing the happy dance or going our for a latte or singing at the top of my lungs, but I am not doing any of that. Back-to-school came sooner than I thought. This morning, I put my last child on the bus. She broke a tradition of me taking my children to school. She wanted to be a "bus stop girl" with the rest of the neighborhood. This year there was a little kindergarten boy who busted up the pink princess parade. The girls woke up at 3am, too excited to sleep. They joined me down in the family room full of excited chatter about school. My baby girl even did a couple pages of her phonics. The big sister pointed out all the important things she would learn in kindergarten, I just wanted sleep. They eventually dozed off. 6:30am found them wide awake and raring to go. They dashed off to take morning "wake up" showers and put on their clothes that were carefully chosen a week ago. The second grader took special c...

The summer program has ended and the lure of colorful pencils looms ahead. The back-to-school season is in full swing. I am collecting ideas, watching my children sleep late, and awaiting August 19th when for the first time in five years, my mornings will be completely kid free. What will I do with the time? I was the Program Director for SPROG, Inc. this past summer. It was a great experience being the principal of a summer school. The kids all wove their way into my heart and are permanently sewed in. I am already planning great things for next summer when the program turns 40. Even as I sit in the quiet of my SPROG office and finish up the remaining paperwork, listening intently to the still halls that once were full of 60+ youth voices, I wonder about the next phase. My son will be a sophomore at the high school, my baby will start morning kindergarten, and my other daughter will be in second grade. There are parts of my year that are already taken up with helping my son nav...