Go I have a collection of red shoes. Growing up my dad would moan about red shoes — I wasn’t “allowed” to have them. There were various reasons for this very nonsensical rule. In a passive move of rebellion I chose a red dress for junior prom. Naturally I would also need red shoes. Mom bought them for me. My dad was not impressed. (Today, my daughters clomp around in those old red prom shoes and love them as much as I did.) It was the first step on a… Read more {red}: five minute friday →
“You’re a left winger! You’re a left winger!” The coach runs along the sideline of the scrimmage. “You’re not trees — move! You need to protect the goal. Move up! Attack!” His feedback is constant. “You’re a left winger! Over here, this is your territory! Be ready for the pass. You’re a left winger!” He directs according to position. “You’re a goalkeeper! That’s how you protect the goal!” He knows soccer. He talks soccer. There are no worksheets on the positions.There are no lectures about what each player does.There isn’t… Read more don’t let establishing routines sacrifice readers and writers →
I’m writing. Sam is next to me watching a video about how planes fly. Hannah is on the other end of the couch reading, “The best book I’ve ever read in my entire life.” The others are at sports’ practices. “Oh no! I have an emergency! I don’t know what I’m going to do!” Hannah’s panic breaks everyone’s concentration. “What’s the matter?” I ask. “I don’t want to stop reading, but I have to go to the bathroom soooo bad. Like really bad! But I can’t put this book down.”… Read more hannah’s emergency (soLs) →
Airplanes are the current rage around the Ayres’ house. PaperCardboardStyrofoamLegoWood The material is in constant flux.The ideas revised.The testing constant.The passion permeable. They sent cardboard and duct tape home with… Read more discover within the mess (sols) →
I returned to school cold turkey this year.No candle.No chili.No new school shoes. Nothing. Two days before my first day this conversation happened: Andy: You go to school on Monday? Like two days from now?Me: Yes.Andy: No…you have to be joking around. You really go to school on Monday?Me: I’m not joking. Monday I start school.Andy: Where did the summer go? I’m not sure, because I didn’t let go of summer at all. But it’s gone. I don’t think I’d do it differently, because even though I didn’t transition, the kids… Read more change is coming (sols) →
There are people in this world who thrive on a schedule. They love order. Predictability sustains them. There is security in minutes counted and to do lists checked. I’m not really one of these people. Last Monday I returned to school. I didn’t prepare, but instead, I just jumped in — cold turkey, so to speak. Four days in and I’ve converted. My kids (not the ones I spend the day in school with, but the ones who live in my house) don’t start school until next week. They are… Read more summer ends →
I purposely waited to write my slice. I considered preposting, but instead, I wanted to write it in real-time, at the end of the day, from my in-law’s lake house.… Read more preparing (sols) →
I’ve spent a handful of days in the Ozarks visiting my grandparents almost every year of my entire life. Last week I spent a day in the valley with my… Read more all in the same moment (soLs) →
I never know when it is going to hit — that moment when I’m ready to return to school. Some years it arrives early, just a few days after the… Read more it’s time to get ready for school →
Ruth Ayres Writes 