Posts by Lynn Slaughter
Dealing with my Own “Stuff”
This past week, I took a professional development workshop on first aid for mental health, a program that originated in Australia and is now gaining widespread adoption in the states. It’s designed to teach skills in recognizing and responding to folks who may be in the early-stages of a mental health crisis
Read MoreMOTHERHOOD: THERE’S NO EXPIRATION DATE
As I write this, it’s Mother’s Day. I’ve been thinking a lot about the experience of being a mom. Pre-children, I imagined being a mom was pretty much a temporary gig.
Read MoreMY TURN TO BLAME SET
President Obama had barely taken the oath of office when Senator Mitch McConnell, one of the folks who makes me profoundly embarrassed to admit I live in Kentucky, announced his primary goal was to limit Obama to one term in office. He didn’t succeed, but he and his Republican cronies became the “party of No”…
Read MoreIt’s Not Altruism, But It Sure Feels Good
I once sat in a communications lecture in which the professor announced, “There’s no such thing as altruism.” I raised my hand.
Read MorePowerful Writing Advice from Donald Maass
My writer’s group takes turns leading mini-workshops on aspects of fiction writing. Recently, it was my turn. The subject was upping the stakes in our stories. When I re-read Donald Maass’s chapter on stakes from his outstanding WRITING THE BREAKOUT NOVEL,
Read MoreThe Working Poor in Academia
My office mate’s eyes light up when he begins talking about a new approach he’s just tried with his college students that worked really well. He clearly loves what he does, and he’s endlessly curious about how he can do his job even better.
Read MoreWhole Lot of Re-Parenting Going On
I’ve always been suspicious of those couples who have that parent-child thing going on. It makes me nervous
Read MoreLove Stories Are the Best
My husband claims that people take one look at me and start spilling their life stories. To be honest, it’s kind of true. I think folks can tell I’m genuinely interested. Sometimes
Read MorePicking a Partner
The other day, I was talking with my English composition class about the importance of identifying their criteria of evaluation in working on their upcoming “write a review” assignment. I pointed out that in our everyday lives, we’re constantly doing evaluations
Read MoreCollege and Class, Part 2
Some months ago, I wrote about the differences between my college experience as an upper middle class kid at an Ivy League college and the more challenging experience of my commuter university students,
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