Student + mom: Jen

By the way, I've posted a new Student + Mom interview here.  You'll love it; Jen is an inspiration.

In league together

I love hearing about other student/moms.

I want to know what fuels their days, why they went back to school, what the school & family blend looks like for them. I'm inspired to hear about others' triumphs and challenges and comforted to know I'm not alone--because, oh, it can be lonely. On the off chance that others feel the same way, I'm starting a sometimes feature over on Student+Mom: an interview series/virtual kitchen table chat I am lovingly calling The League of Student-Moms (isn't there something superheroic sounding about that?).  Maybe if you're in grad school or considering it or if you know someone who is or if you're just interested in what makes people tick or inspired by watching valiant reaching, you'll have a peek.

First up, Sarah Jones. I've never met her but I'd sure like to! (I keep telling her we should be neighbors. That's not creepy, is it?) I love her blog Unhistoric Acts and I'm pretty sure you will, too. Meet Sarah in an interview over here.

. . .

p.s.

Now. I'm not saying everyone should go to grad school. Going "back to school" is just one way to rise to what's inside you, where timing meets opportunity meets take-a-breath-and-jump. I'm inspired by women of all stripes; we each house a different internal alchemy that dictates our yearnings and activities. I'm thinking of women I know who are:

Running a marathon or a non-profit or a PTA.

Writing westerns or wills or websites.

Jumping from planes or into craft projects or from volunteer gig to volunteer gig. 

Mastering behavioral economics or the perfect cupcake or capturing life in paintings.

Hats off to all and the blogs that chronicle these activities. And here's to being supportive of each other.

Nancy Drew reporting for duty

[First of all, today was a blast. Once I wrapped my head around the fact that this was really just a series of conversations with people who might be able to use the information I had to give (and once I realized that most of the staffers on the hill are slightly older than my eldest daughter), I was okay.  Excited, in fact.

I met with Senator rhymes-with-Frown and his staffer, the child and family issues legislative staffer for Senator rhymes-with-Harry, and Congresswoman rhymes-with-Songbus and her staffer. A full day, great conversations and possibilities for more, and I made it through without hyperventilating.  I almost fell down the marble stairs of the Russell Senate Office Building once, though. I'm so classy.]

. . .

At one point, I was sitting on the grounds of the Capitol between appointments, contemplating collecting leaves for Maddy's 50-leaf science project (that dreaded, infamous freshman science rite of passage), when I heard a big crash. Some guy in a white SUV had backed into a red porsche.  The sound of the crunch made it obvious that there was damage. The guy looked in his rearview, glanced around, and put the car in drive & left. I was appalled! He pulled past the guard booth at the edge of the Capitol grounds and stopped at the red light.

Suddenly all of my Nancy Drew indoctrination kicked in. I pulled out my phone and noted his license and dashed over to the guard booth. "Sir!" I yelled, galumphing across the grass gracelessly. (Isn't it awesome how sophisticated I can be?) "Stop that car! He just backed into that Porsche and left!" The police guy ran over and waved the hit-and-runner back. And then I called Ned to go meet for a milkshake. And then I remembered I wasn't Nancy Drew.

Every time I passed the lot for the rest of the afternoon, there were a swarm of police and the poor guy was in big trouble. 

I felt like such a tattletale. 

. . .

Which leads me to relate the following bad memory (cue backflash music): 2nd grade, ancient Mrs. Olson's class. Someone broke the rules on the playground and I was very concerned for the (a) fairness and (b) safety of the situation. I went directly to Mrs. Olson and reported the crime.  

Much to my dismay, Mrs. Olson did not appreciate my vigilance. She seemed not to even care about the rules. Not only did she not thank me for my whistleblowing, she required me to WEAR A TATTLE TAIL for the rest of the day.  As in: a paper tail, pinned to my behind, all day long. Have you ever heard of such a thing? Oh, the shame.

I can't help it. I'm an oldest child and we believe in following the rules. If that means reporting infractions now and then, so be it.

Nancy Drew do-gooder, tattletale. Such a fine line. 

. . .

Listen:  Stay Don't Go  ~ Spoon

Fear busting

I'm sitting in my bed in a chilly Washington DC hotel room, contemplating doing six impossible things before breakfast tomorrow. Well, three. Before dinner. I'm here for lobbying and advocacy training for my lovely and beloved national Zero to Three leadership fellowship program. And (gulp) to do scary things like talk to senators. In person. 

So far the casualties of this assignment include: my dietary resolve not to eat sugar or dairy, my fingernails (now bitten), and (currently) my sleep. I'm a wee bit nervous and, as a personal pep talk to myself, I keep thinking of the Eleanor Roosevelt quote "we must do that which we think we cannot." And then I want to call her up and say "really? we MUST? why?"

In spite of the rampant nerves, I'm also excited. It will be fascinating and I know it's a true privilege to be able to speak up for infants and their families. And what better inspiration for fearless advocacy than Mr. Smith Goes to Washington?

Fingers crossed that I don't end up quite as sweaty and delirious (no offense, Mr. Smith).

. . .

In other political news, Maddy lost her bid for class president to the doughnut girl. Their loss, I say! I told her she can be my president any day. She consoled herself by making everyone baked potato soup and 7-layer bars. 

Traveling light(er)

I'm excited to be heading to Washington, DC today for my Zero to Three scientific and fellowship meetings. And--lucky me!--Miss Maddy is there on her 8th grade trip this week, too. It will be fun to keep my eye out for her while we're both there--my own little Where's Waldo game. If only Maddy were wearing a red-and-white striped shirt and hat. I guess I'll just have to look for a blob of 14-year-olds with wicked cool accents.

Last week I hauled my grand-scale suitcase all around Utah. (And paid to check it on the plane. Urgh...I strongly dislike that. Yet another reason for train travel). In my defense...I have no defense.  I overpacked and filled it with books and extras on the way home. Anyhow, this trip I'm all about carry-on luggage, no fees, and streamlined packing choices.

Inspired by this Mighty Girl post (so impressive!) I took a little trip to the Container Store for see-through pouches and itty bitty plastic bottles for my liquids. (I'm so impressionable, remember?) 

So now, a little obsessed, I'm trolling for travel tips. When you pack a suitcase, do you have a thing you do? Do you fold or roll the clothes? Check or carry on? Enlighten me.