Kelly – Page 5 – Run Read Repeat

Baltimore Ten Miler- What goes up must come down!

In the past all my races have been planned fairly for in advance. The Baltimore Ten Miler was a different story. Ironically, ten days before a friend politely twisted my arm to sign up. Honestly, there wasn’t much twisting, I was happy to sign up for an in person race, BUT I heard the course was going to be brutal! It’s fairly hilly where I live and do my outdoor runs so in my mind I was thinking how hilly could it be? Famous last words! I opted not to drive the course. Part of me was afraid if I knew what was coming I would change my mind. I figured that once I had the adrenaline and people around me a tough course wouldn’t seem quite so hard.

The beauty of this race is that it was literally ten minutes from our house. Seems like that theme of ten keeps coming up again and again. This was one of the reasons I was quick to do the last minute registration. You can’t beat the convenience of a close race! As with any race we had to get there early to beat the traffic and road closures. My amazing husband and boys came along to cheer me on. Yes, with a 5:00 AM start on the Saturday morning after the last day of school they all got in the car to come along! When I first started racing I completely underestimated the value of having support at the finish line. In an attempt to make things easier I was always quick to say that I would go alone so my husband wouldn’t have to juggle to boys waiting for the race to start, me to actually run the race and then navigate the post race madness. But I quickly learned how nice it is to have them there. I’ve made it a habit to call a mile out just to say I’m getting close and they can be on the look out. Having family support is HUGE. And I would find out during this particular race how important it was for them to be waiting for me at the finish line!

The other great thing about this particular race was that parking was close to the start and finish!! (win!) The start and finish were at the same place (win)! So the boys got to experience the start of the race vibe. The partially got to experience this when I ran the Baltimore Half marathon but that was nearly two years ago. Also this was a much smaller race, so they got to be in the mix of things. They saw how everything was set up for pre-race. Last minute packet pick up, the long lines at the porta potties, the runners warming up. They got to see how the groups were going to line up to go to the start and the police getting ready to. They even got to meet the Police Chief. It was interesting to see the start through their eyes. We strategized for the best place for them to see me start and then to see me finish. It was a nice way to ease back into running in person.

Over time I’ve learned that I’m a cold weather runner. I thrive in high 40 to 50 degree weather for running and racing. This means that in the alternative warmer weather running/racing tests my body a little bit differently. I must have checked the weather 100 times leading up to race morning. The temperature and humidity growing each time I checked. Why do I keep checking when there is nothing I can do about it?? Ultimately it was nearly 70 degrees with 85% humidity at race time. Yuck! I opted not to wear my Camelbak because I find it somewhat claustrophobic and opted for my Spibelt with two 6 ounces water bottles. There were refueling stations along the way if I needed them. (I didn’t). I didn’t because I probably didn’t drink enough water during the race. I generally don’t drink too much when I run, but I barely drank 6 ounces over 10 miles. Given the temperature and humidity I should have drank more. This is not the first and I’m sure it won’t be the last time I saw I should have drank more during a race.

Ready- set- go! To fully understand this race- getting a handle on the elevation gain is important. Take a look at the elevation gain as according to my Garmin watch:

My pace for the first four miles was right on point to faster than I wanted it to be- 8:02, 8:09, 8:11, 8:29. Mile 5 was a bit slower at 8:55. Which makes total sense looking at the elevation change. Mile 5 I had a HumaGel pouch- caffeinated with double electrolytes. I knew that between mile 7 and 8 that there was going to be a monster hill so I wanted to get the pouch into my system to have a little extra oomph for what was certainly going to be the hardest part of the course. Mile 6 back to target pace at 8:26. Mile 7 a little slower at 8:51 and then take a look at the elevation game friends. At mile 7.5 the hill/mountain almost broke me. My heart rate was CRAZY high and I knew there was no way I could run the hill. So I power walked. It was at that moment I knew that my overall race time wasn’t going to be where I wanted it to be. But I also knew that I had to walk to regulate my heart rate and try to bring my core body temperature down just a bit. So mile 8 was a slow 9:50. Mile 9 back at target pace range 8:34. But then you see that dip going up to finish the race, I was toast and had another slower mile at 9:27. But then I managed to run in for the last tenth of a mile or so.

So what was I thinking when I felt like the course was breaking me? I remembered my training. I knew that I had the ability to go the miles, but that I had to factor in that the terrain is a major factor in overall success. I know I can run way more than 10 miles, but I also know that I have never run this route before and by golly it was HARD. Therefore I couldn’t compare apples to apples in regards to time. I was thinking that my amazing husband and boys were waiting for me at the finish and I needed to finish for them. But I also knew that the only one who cared about how quickly I finished was me! All they cared about was seeing me finish. I could have finished dead last and they would have been just as proud of me. I also tend to forget how far I have come in basically two years time. That two years ago, the first time I ran ten miles I was barely hitting 10 minutes per mile. I’ve gotten stronger and faster. I also underestimate my abilities in comparison to my peers. As in, I assume I’m so much slower than everyone else. You have a lot of time to think when you are running ten miles. My husband’s comeback when I doubt myself will always be, you ran a marathon by yourself! He’s right- if I can do that, I can do anything- including some crazy hilly course. Funny thing is the Baltimore Ten Miler is moving back to the City next year. I kind of wish they would keep it here. You know you are delusional when you are trying to figure out how to run the course that nearly broke you just the day before.

The day after as I write this I am surprisingly sore in ways that I have never been before. Interestingly enough the up hills for the most part don’t bother me. Except of course the one at mile 7.5 which was more like a mountain. I’m not very good at letting gravity take it’s course on the downhills. So my quads are KILLING me today!! What goes up, must come down and apparently fighting the coming down has tested muscles that haven’t been tested quite that way before. I was supposed to run a 5K this morning. When I got up to let the dog out- and saw the rest of my family sleeping every so soundly after getting up so very early yesterday morning and felt my legs walking the steps down to the kitchen I decided that I’d be skipping that 5K! Today I’m respecting my body’s need for a little time to recover!

So am I glad I ran the race? Absolutely!! Not every race is going to be a PR. Not every course is going to be easy. Doing hard things makes us better and stronger! Oh and overall, I did way better than I expected when I looked at the results. And you know what?? I’d run this course again- just not today!

The Return of Running in Person

The past year to eighteen months have been a roller coaster of emotions. We’ve mentally gone from strict stay at home to stay safe- to embracing the boys going back to school (what a blessing) to now what I call reacclimating (which apparently isn’t a real word) back into regular “normal” life. I’m not going to lie, I think I might need a class or at least a top ten list of things to do while I get myself back into society. Granted, I’ve been fortunate enough to be substitute teaching all year, so I haven’t been strictly at home. However, my social interactions have been pretty limited to family and our pod family. We will continue to navigate the ups and downs and modifications of life brought to us by COVID.

This time last year I was learning that the NYC Marathon was canceled. It made total sense, but broke my heart. This year I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the NYC Marathon is happening and I’m IN!! It’s hard to believe that it’s really going to happen. Quite honestly I won’t fully believe it until I’m waiting in Staten Island to cross the Verrazano Bridge. But even before November we are seeing the return of racing in “real life.” Many states have been ahead of Maryland and I’ve seen friends share their racing experiences for months, while I was getting antsy to run. Now is finally my chance. Go big or go home. Why run one race in a weekend if you can run two??

After not running an in person race since the “there’s some trail” all trail race in August some ten months ago I’m slated to run two this weekend. Saturday is a 10 miler (that I ran virtually last year) that I actually wasn’t going to run. There’s a smaller 5K that was my first race two years ago when I started running again that I wanted to have fresh legs to run. One thing led to another (some friendly peer pressure) and how could I pass up a real life race ten minutes from my backyard. The course is challenging and post COVID racing looks a little bit different than pre-COVID racing, but I signed up at the last minute. I’ve had nervous, excited energy about it all week. Deciding what to wear. Deciding how much water to carry. Just honestly being excited to run with the push of other people around me. I’ve totally dialed back my pace to a lot of easy runs of late because I was focusing on number of miles and staying injury free. So I’m not quite sure what my pace will look like. I have a target pace in my mind that I’ve been hitting on my outdoor runs; I would imagine with the adrenaline and running with others will shave a little bit of time off that target pace. We shall see. Really it’s about running my best race and time shouldn’t matter. If you’re new here, I put crazy pressure on myself, so I’m the one who needs to be reminded that it’s just about finishing the race.

I was so excited to share with the boys that I would be running a race. So, I must share a funny story that occurred over dinner regarding the race.

Me: I’m running a race this weekend.

J (age 7): Can we shoot you with water guns when you finish again? (this is what they did when I finished my virtual marathon)

Me: Not this time. It’s an in person race.

J: Wow, like a real race?

Me: Yes!!

J: How far is it?

Me: 10 miles.

J: That should be easy. It’s not very far.

I don’t know, I kind of think 10 hilly miles when it’s supposed to be in the 70s with 90% plus humidity is kind of far. Apparently even my children have become numb to the fact that running long distances is just what I do. That said, I’m feeling some butterflies getting ready this week. I started laying out my gear and thinking a bit more about my nutrition and water intake during the week to make sure I’m properly hydrated. I’m trying to get more sleep, but that’s a losing battle this week. As I’m typing this I’m laughing and thinking of something someone told me when I was a trial attorney. “If walking into the courtroom to start a trial doesn’t still give you nervous excitement you should find something else to do.” I believe racing is truly the same thing. If it becomes too old hat that you don’t get some butterflies before you toe the line, it’s time to find a new hobby! Fortunately the butterflies are flying and hopefully I will be too!

Summer Reading Bucket List and Challenge

Years ago I created this Summer Reading Bucket List to do with the boys. I even collected books for the boys in each category and had them in a basket so we could check them all off the list. Recently, Carter asked if we could read in the bathtub again. He remembered! By read in the bathtub, what he actually meant was basically turn the soaking tub, that I never use into a fort. We filled it with blankets and actually read about book about a girl who blasts off into space in her bathtub. Very fitting, right?? So who am I kidding, I’m going to make a list of books that we are going to read for the various buckets. Here goes:

We can read any book in a tent.
Book about wild animals- Wild Kratts to the rescue! The boys love the Kratt brothers and have learned so much from them. So we will take a look at Wild Kratts, Wild Cats.
We can read any book at the breakfast table.
Read a book and act it out– The Who Would Win books have also been added to our summer reading list. I anticipate the boys acting out Who Would Win? Ultimate Dinosaur Rumble!
We can read any book to Ruby!
We can read any book at dinner.
Read in the bath- we will turn our bathtub into a submarine and read, The Magic School Bus Rides Again, Sink or Swim.
Read a book that makes you laugh– The Notebook of Doom Collection is sure to make you laugh. We are adding this collection to the mix this summer.
Read in a blanket fort- any book will do!
Read a book about space– Carter picked this one! The Magic School Bus Rides Again- Satellite Space Mission
Read a book about a city far away– Our plan is to read the rest of the Magic Treehouse series this summer. Dingoes at Dinnertime, Book 20 will take us to Australia!
Read a book about friendship– Ballpark Mysteries series is a family favorite and we are planning to read several of the books this summer. They explore the friendship of cousins and mysteries that happen at Major League Baseball parks all over the country.
We can read any book under a tree.- While any book will do we will go with Tops & Bottoms. This Caldecott Award winner, is sure to generate a chuckle or two and is full of life lessons.
We can also read any book by flashlight.
Read a book you wrote. Cue the boys to get writing so we can read their books later this summer. Something this might be fun to give them ideas to get started.
Read a book about your country– We have a couple ideas for this bucket. I survived the Battle of Gettysburg, 1863 and What Were the Twin Towers, a who HQ book.
We always seem to read as a family!
Read an alphabet book– Jackson is a huge fan of Acrostic Poems. He loves writing and creating them. Bow Tie Pasta Acrostic Poems will be a fun way to kick off camp mom so that we can then working on writing our very own poems as a follow up activity.
Read a comic book– Snoopy and the Peanuts are fan favorites in our house. So Snoopy Cowabunga it will be. This will double as a great book to read at the beach!
Read a book in a funny accent
Read at the beach- any book will do here!
Read a book about art– Maybe not quite about art- but how fun will it be to read Flat Stanley’s Worldwide Adventures– Framed in France?

So much for not planning out the books. I had too much fun filling in the more specific buckets with ideas that the boys would enjoy. Maybe you kiddos will enjoy a book or two from our list. As for some of the buckets- they are low lying fruit, right? Read at breakfast or dinner…this happens a few times a week in our house. While we make the books go away so we can talk about our day, they would be just as happy to keep reading and eating. But it’s possible that reading at the beach isn’t a possibility for you. So maybe you create a beach scene at home. Play some ocean music, put on your bathing suits and lay out a blanket on the floor. Get creative and use your imagination. The point is to get reading no matter what or where and to make it fun!!

You know what, it’s also key for your kiddos to see you read too. And by read, I don’t mean a book to/for them, but rather a book that is for YOU!! Showing that reading is still important to you allows our children to see that reading can be a life long hobby! I’ve started carrying a “real” book with me to read when I’m subbing. Why? Reading is a part of nearly every grades day. If my class is having 20 minutes of reading time, I join them. Why?? They see grown ups read too…and enjoy it!

Looking for books for you?? Follow me on Goodreads. I’d love to follow you back to get some ideas to add to my to be read list that seems to keep growing!! Plus they have lots of great giveaways and challenges to push you to keep reading!! Or consider signing up for Book of the Month. I’m in full fledged obsessed mode with Book of the Month. I’m still borrowing books from the library to read on my Kindle, but I’m actually enjoying the concept of reading an actually book again. Plus it allows me to sit down with a book and the boys see me reading rather than thinking I’m playing on my device.

Summer reading usually means the opportunity for reading challenges and ways to track your reading. In my post (Reward at the End of the Week) I talked about how we became regulars at Barnes and Noble lately. Did you know that Barnes and Noble has their own summer reading challenge? Kids in grades 1-6 can earn a free book (from a pre-selected list) for completing this form. Read eight books between July 1 and August 31, complete the form and bring it to your participating Barnes and Noble. Be sure to also check out your local library to see what if any Summer reading club options/challenges they might have available. Our local library has a family challenge o we can track all of our reading. I love making it a family affair.

Shocker, I recently just found my original library card. I’m talking my first library card when I was growing up. I can remember the summer reading challenge and how you had to go and talk to the librarian about the book that you read. I can even remember the layout of the library. It’s funny the things that you remember. As we are still in pandemic times to an extent much of the challenges are online. But the Barnes and Noble form does allow for a discussion about why it was your favorite book. As I’m typing this, I’m thinking of a way that the boys can keep track of the books that we read this summer and make a note about what they liked about a particular books that we read. Rather than just added it to the school summer reading log- really think about and reflect about the book after we finish it. The question is what does that look like? I’m thinking about getting Jackson and Carter each an old school Composition notebook. Carter can write a few words and draw a picture and Jackson can use it as a chance to do a little bit of writing- say 3-4 sentences about why he liked or didn’t like the particular book!

Reward at the end of the week!

I don’t know about you but come Friday, I’m spent. The kids are spent. We are all done from a full week at school. While we haven’t returned to full pre-covid times with the number of activities and birthday parties, etc. we are starting to safely do more. But truth be told after school on Friday we are ready for a shower, dinner, a book/movie and bed!! Oh and possible a glass of wine.

In case you are new here, we are avid readers in our house. We miss the library and own more books than most. I don’t say that in a bragging way like look at how many books we have, but more in a I’m a sucker for buying books that I know they will spend hours looking at and read over and over again. Some of this started with my time with Usborne Books & More and the boys having books from a young age, some of this is fueled by their passion to read and learn. And let’s be real, some of it is my joy in seeing how excited they get to get new books, snuggle up and read them with me. Some of this I believe dates back to my grandfather literally having a garage full of books. He would go to yard sales and buy a variety of books and read them all. He also had EVERY single National Geographic magazine. Back in the stone ages when I was doing a project on something he would always say “I have a book on that” and proceed to bull several from his collection for me to use of points of reference. So the long and short is we love books, my hubby too and we are all too happy to encourage the boys to read too.

Friday, May 7 was the end of a long week. It was raining and as we were heading home Barnes and Noble called to say the books I had ordered had come in. Bonus, we could pick them up and then head home. Think back to pre-covid times, I would take the boys to Barnes and Noble, they would play with the trains and we would get a book or two. Well, it’s been a long while since we went to Barnes and Noble thanks to Covid and most likely Amazon. I’m not knocking Amazon, they can get me things faster than anyone else. What I’m saying is that by not physically going to a book store for a long time I got the most unreal response from the boys when we walked in. Imagine a kid walking into a toy store and being told they could get anything they wanted. Their amazement at the number and variety of books was palpable. When Carter realized it was a bookstore and that he could keep the books he selected he was elated. Carter was interested in getting Dog Man books because his cousin loves them and he’s looked at them when we are there. Jackson, my fact loving, always learning kid opted for Weird but True books from National Geographic. The most amazing thing as we were getting ready to leave was that they wanted to make sure I had gotten a book too. I assured them that I had more than enough books at home, but appreciated to sentiment.

Fast forward to May 16. It’s the end of another long week, but added to the excitement I decided to run a few errands after school…with the boys! You know the important things…get gas (during a gas shortage), Target, get a gift certificate for an end of year gift for a teacher. I gave them the stores we were planning to hit and they were quiet. Then came the big question…”are we going to Barnes and Noble?” This was of course while they were trying to determine if they should ask for something at Target. While I hadn’t planned to go to Barnes and Noble again, how could I deprive them this end of the week “treat.” It’s possible I might have gone to Barnes and Noble on Mother’s Day also and gotten 5 more Dog Man books as Jackson had read the first one cover to cover twice. So they wanted the final four to complete the collection. Somehow, a Weird But True National Geographic food book also made it into the mix. I should note, that during the week Jackson had his first round of standardized tests. The whole nine yards of fill in the scantron, lots of pressure but doesn’t tell you anything kind of test. As the byproduct of two parents who take everything seriously (except this silly test), even though we didn’t put pressure on him, he put pressure on himself. He was spent from the week. It took so much out of him. So the fact, that he and I both knew some new books would do the trick for the weekend to get grounded and regroup, how could we go wrong.

Shocker, as soon as we got into the car the boys were both deep into the books. Quick showers and then we were all snuggled up, each with our own book on the couch. I took pause. At each stage of life our role as a parent changes a little bit, right? They don’t need us quite as much for things as they get a little bit older, but they still need us- just differently and need us to set the right example. I’m going to hold onto this Friday afternoon/evening tradition for as long as possible.

Longest Day Virtual 5K Version 2.0

The Longest Day is the Summer Solstice, the day with the most hours of sunlight. Last year, I ran a mile a mile an hour for every mile of daylight for a total of 16 miles as a fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Association in conjunction with my fundraising to run the NYC Marathon. At the same time, I organized a virtual 5K in honor of the Longest Day and my Dad and several people participated. While I’ve technically completed my fundraising requirement to run the marathon, there’s no need to stop raising awareness and dollars for this important cause.

Very fittingly this year the Longest Day falls on Father’s Day. So I’m back at it and hoping you will join us as we run, walk or skip 3.1 from wherever you are on Sunday, June 20, 2021. You can register here. The rules aren’t really strict- run inside our outside. Walk if you prefer. Have fun with it. I’ll be opting for the 5K option this year and challenging Jackson and Carter to run/walk the whole distance with me. Truth be told, I’ll probably run a 5K first thing and then run walk another with the Jeffrey and the boys. Nothing says Father’s Day like getting moving together as a family!! Much better than the Mother’s Day visit to the Pet ER with the Ruby, but that’s a different story for a different day. Not to worry, she’s fine now.

You can’t have a race without a shirt, right??? This year’s shirt was a creation along with the boys. We learned a lot along the way in creating our design. Like that the elephant is the unofficial mascot for Alzheimer’s Awareness. Why?? Because an elephant never forgets. Elephants happen to be Jackson’s favorite animal so he was all over creating a shirt with elephant’s on it. Conveniently, Carter’s favorite color is purple. So they are both covered in our design.

Get your shirt today! Available in Unisex sizing, women’s (size up one to two sizes) and kids!!

We hope you’ll join us on June 20th to run, walk and raise awareness for the Alzheimer’s Association. The end of Alzheimer’s disease starts with each and every one of us!

Why I joined Book of the Month (BOTM)

I’ve been an avid reader for as long as I can remember. In my adult years my reading has ebbed and flowed based upon other responsibilities (i.e. law school, kids, work etc.). Recently, I’m back on the reading bandwagon hard. I have a few favorite authors Michael Connelly, David Baldalcci, Lisa Scottoline, Fredrik Backman, J.A. Jance (if I could run a marathon listening to one of her books then she has to be a favorite for sure). Basically, I find an author that I like and I read everything they write…until I’m caught up and anxiously awaiting new releases. I’ve always struggled to find new titles to read and frequently look for recommendations. Goodreads has been a great place to see what others have read and liked, but similar to clothing and always picking the same thing I always steer towards the same types of books.

I read on my Kindle. In general I borrow e-books from my local library and read on my Kindle or sometimes my phone if I’m trying to squeeze in a few extra pages. To get wild and crazy I recently started listening on Audible to combine with my reading so I could listen while I run. Needless to say I’m trying to make all the time to find new books and read when possible. So, why add another variable like BOTM?

First, I’ll say I did a lot of research before deciding on BOTM. There are a lot of choices when it comes to book subscriptions. Many select the book for you. This was a deal breaker for me. I still want to have some control over what I’m reading. Some include other items to go with the book- “extras.” Let’s be real, I don’t need any extra “stuff” to go with the book, I just need the book. BOTM is special because each month they feature five books and you get to choose which of the five you want that month. If nothing looks exciting to you- you can pass for the month or select a book from a previous month. Also, they have add on books that you can choose from too! So basically BOTM seemed like the best of all words to me and what I was looking to get from a book subscription. What did I want?

NEW IDEAS FOR BOOKS

Years and years ago a friend suggested I read Beartown by Fredrik Backman. Me: “a book about hockey, seriously?” In case you haven’t read it, the book is about way more than hockey! It rates as one of the top books I’ve read…EVER. So if you haven’t read it yet…run and get Beartown and Us Against You the sequel. You won’t be disappointed. But the point to all of this babbling is I’m generally in a rut of what “type” of book I read. Legal mysteries. Think Law and Order in book form- that’s my go to. Which means I read Grisham, Connelly, and Baldalcci as soon as their books come out because I’ve already read everything else that they’ve written. I generally don’t care if I’m reading the new “hot” book that everyone else is reading. However, I’m now eager to be more in the “know” for what has been released and want to branch out. So why, BOTM?? I loved the fact that there are five books to choose from each month in a variety of genres. Not just that there are add on books that you can choose from as well. If you are anything like me having a choice is crucial, a total surprise book would not be my cup of tea. I want to still have some control over what I’m reading, while at the same time branching out. Plus BOTM features debut authors so it’s a great way to try new things!! See, back to that branching out idea!

Great gift idea and a way to reconnect

So I am totally excited about BOTM that I want to share it with all my friends. Ever have that happen? You try something new and then you want to share it with everyone?? I realized it was the perfect retirement gift for a friend. And then even more importantly the best birthday gift for my friend from college as it would also allow us to form our own “book club” and create an excuse for us to build time into each month to talk. She wants to read more, and I want to read new and different books. We both want time to connect. Win- win, am I right?

Read a “real” book again

Don’t get me wrong, I carry my Kindle with me everywhere. It’s great to read on in low light because it’s backlit or in the sunlight. It’s lightweight and totally convenient to keep with me. Plus I can read on my Kindle pick up where I left off on my phone or with Audible. But for a book lover there’s truly something about having a “real” book. When I read with the boys it’s always a “real” book. I know what you are thinking…do you really want/need more books in your house when you are doing? The short answer to that question is no. But my thought is to pass the books along to friends and family who might be interested and encourage them to do the same. Additionally, I’ll happily donate them to the Maryland Book Bank or maybe the boys and I will start our own Little Free Library. How fun would that be? The point being I can’t wait to enjoy reading a “real” book again. Plus then the boys see me reading an actual book rather than on a device. Raising readers to love “real” books by example is key!!

Do you want to give it a try?

Does this sound appealing to you? There’s no commitment. You can opt to sign up for one month to give it a try or possibly you want to sign up for a year and save? Either way if you want to learn more visit Book of the Month. Stay tuned as I’m thinking about a fun way to engage over books this summer with an adult summer reading challenge!

In the mean time- have an inspired day!

More than running- books, learning activities and more!

This started as just a place to share running/racing updates. Well, bam then Covid happened and while I’ve competed in some virtual races I haven’t really done any you know since the Virtual NYC Marathon in October 2020. Then I started subbing at school and my brain has shifted to learning based activities and reading challenges. And while I can talk until I’m blue in the face about running, running gear, prepping for a race, life after a race etcetera I’ve realized that there’s a whole lot more to life than running to share. Shocking I know that there could possibly be more than running to share!! So I’ll be broadening the scope of my posts in the coming weeks!

What to expect?

A summer reading “bucket” list for kiddos
An adult summer reading challenge
Suggestions from one of my favorite places Lakeshore with ideas to stop the “summer slide.”
Review of Kiwi Crates- the monthly subscription box for kids with a hands on activity
and more!!

I know it’s only April but I’m already mentally preparing for summer. Checking all the boxes to be prepared to “take it easy.” We all know there really is no taking it easy when you have kids, however the summer is definitely a more calm time with less scheduled activities and the ability to pick and choose what you would like to do. Last summer it was 100% camp mom all summer long. This year we anticipate the boys heading back to day camp for a few weeks, along with the much anticipated “Camp Mom” for a few weeks as well. We will work together to organize a plan of the things we want to accomplish. Much of it fun- like making s’mores or playing in the pool. But there will be sight words, time telling, reading a more to keep their brains engaged while they relax.

So stay tuned as I begin to get us thinking about being organized with some fun but educational plans to supplement camp or to help fill some time with activities!!

The Remember Balloons- the children’s book opening doors to hard conversations

For as long as I can remember I’ve had a love of books. I was always an avid reader. One of my fondest memories of early reading was reading Little Woman on the couch in our living room. Throughout the course of parenthood I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading to the boys and have passed that love of reading onto them. My time with Usborne Books & More led to us having more books than most in our home. And you know what, I wouldn’t change it for a moment. Being a reader opens so many doors. Being a reader builds curiosity and the desire to learn more, which in turn creates life long learners. I consider myself someone who is always learning new “tricks” so to speak. Whether it’s learning all I can about running, or children’s books or skills for being in the classroom- I’m up for the challenge.

I must share about a book that recently took my breath away! While subbing last week one of the books left for me to read was The Remember Balloons by Jessie Oliverso and Dana Wulfekotte. I honestly thought it was going to be this book about making memories…yeah I should have realized that there was going to be a deeper message in the book. I joke it’s like a Disney movie- appropriate for kids but deep with meaning that those who are able to will grasp.

Half way through the book I could feel my heart racing and moved my mask to the side to catch my breath. Spoiler alert- here’s how the plot unfolds. The little boy in the book notes that he has way more balloons than his little brother and you see them holding their balloons. But then he notes that his parents have even more balloons than him and then ultimately that Grandpa has the most balloons of everyone. The boy begins asking Grandpa about the different colored balloons and he shares the memories that “live” in each balloon, such as his wedding day, the day he scared Aunt Nelle’s cows and the shared memory that he and the boy share together in the silver balloon about their fishing/camping adventure.

It’s important to note in case you aren’t aware my father suffers from early onset Alzheimer’s. As I was reading the book, I suddenly realized where it was headed. Before you know it one of Grandpa’s balloons is getting caught in the tree and he’s repeating the same story over and over again. Then some of Grandpa’s balloons are getting loose and they are floating away. The climax of the story comes when the silver balloon goes floating away and the boy is so angry that the grandfather has “given” away the memory. The boy ultimately confronts his parents asking what is wrong with Grandpa and the mother informs him that this happens sometimes when people get older. Towards the end of the book the grandfather no longer has any balloons but the boy notes that his balloons have increased. He now has the responsibility of having those memories live on and sharing them with his younger brother and down the road his own family. The book closes with the boy sitting in the grandfather’s lap retelling the stories that the grandfather once told him. If you’re crying, I was and am now too. My youngest who is five years old asks the darnedest questions. On his last visit with my dad in 2020, he spent a lot of time talking to him about cactus. When I recently made my trip out to Arizona he was so concerned with whether or not Pop Pop remembered talking to him about the cactus or if he had forgotten. Needless to say this is a balloon memory. Regardless of whether my dad recalls the conversation, Carter will hold that memory close. It should come as no surprise that I have ordered this book for my boys. I can’t wait to read it with them, cry with them, and then create our remember balloons.

Trying to talk to kids about Alzheimer’s or death is a daunting task. They ask real and hard questions. As educators and parents we bring our own life experiences to the conversation. Some conversations are easier to have than others, but in all fairness we are also human and processing our own emotions surrounding death or a particular disease. Books help explain and offer tangible ways to have conversations. In some cases books offer a spring board to begin a difficult conversation. I’m forever searching for new tools to add to my tool chest and I am so glad to add The Remember Balloons. I’m sharing it today because perhaps it will be a helpful tool to use as well.

From Courtroom to Classroom

What?? I know what you are thinking- she’s lost her marbles. But I’ve been giving this quite a bit of thought lately. In September 2021 for the first time since we had children both were in school full time, at the same time, EVER. I was home for approximately three days before I started subbing regularly at school. Anywhere from 3-5 days a week. I’m in the lower school- pre-K to fourth grade. My favorite days are every Friday when I sub for one of the librarians. Spoiler alert, I love books. I once sold children’s books and my children have more books than some libraries.

So how did I make this correlation? I recently had a phone conversation with a former colleague from when I was a prosecutor, trying criminal cases. He and I actually tried a multi defendant homicide case together shortly before I became pregnant with our oldest. Anyway, as he was asking what I had been up to, I explained that I had started subbing at the boys’ school. There was a definite pause before the conversation continued. I know in his mind he was trying to balance the no bs, tough as nails prosecutor with the image of me reading books to lower school children. Trust me the former version of myself would not recognize this version. However, it makes total sense that after being at home with the boys and looking for a way to reengage in the workforce that I would look for something on their schedule, that allowed me to still be present at school (literally since I sometimes get to be in their room). It would also make sense that after seven plus years at home the hardened prosecutor might have softened just a touch. Motherhood changes your perspective on a lot of things!

Here’s how the analogy breaks down. I was a prosecutor for nearly a decade. I tried criminal cases. Towards the end of my legal career I was primarily trying cases of violent crime, such as murders, home invasion armed robberies, burglaries, sex offenses. So you would imagine that this is actually the furthest you could get from a lower school setting, or is it? A jury consists of 12 people and two alternates. These are twelve people that represent a wide variety of socio economic, level of education, geographic location in the county etc. You have to meet them where they are in their ability to absorb the evidence that you are going to present as a prosecutor. Each one of the jurors “learns” in a different way. Maybe one is going to diligently listen to the witnesses testimony, while another will fully absorb a video or evidence involving pictures. You need each one to follow along with the evidence or lesson if you will, in order to get a guilty verdict. All twelve need to “get it” so to speak for a successful outcome. Hmm, sounds a bit similar to the students in a classroom. It’s critical to meet each and every student where they are in level of ability to learn. You need to engage them in the ways that they learn best.

Respect and trust are universal, right? With a jury you needed to have a mutual level of respect. I needed the jurors to respect the job that I was doing while at the same time showing them respect recognizing they 1) were away from work and family to be there to hear the case and 2) that they had the awesome ability that they have in deciding the facts of the case. A jury needed to trust the process, but they also needed to trust that what I was saying and sharing with them was the truth.

How does this relate to being in the classroom?? For the most part the average class size is between 12 and 14. Each child is coming from a different home, a different background and bringing their own experiences to the classroom. Each has a different ability to be able to comprehend the lesson. Not every child is going to learn the same way. You have to break the lesson (evidence) down into bite size pieces so it’s easily comprehended. But you also have to also employ a variety of techniques to present the same information, such as a story, a hands on activity, a song etc. So while I’m not necessarily a tough as nails prosecutor I am still a no bs in the classroom. I have a softer touch and build rapport based upon mutual respect and kindness. Again you need to have the utmost respect and patience for each and every child. You need to be kind and considerate. And you hope that you will earn their respect and receive their kindness in return. This goes hand in hand in building trust and comfort. For some of our youngest learners this is their first time at school, first time away from family. No different than the jury having an awesome responsibility in deciding a case educators have a critical role in helping those children make the transition to a school setting. They need to trust that you are there for them, to help them, to guide them.

If there’s something I learned about being a trial attorney it’s that things don’t always go as planned. i.e. times when a witness doesn’t necessarily testify as anticipated or the wheels fall of the cart. Anyone who has spent any time with children knows that things don’t always go as anticipated. You can have the best laid plans that suddenly get altered because the class isn’t in the right mind space for what you have planned. Being a lawyer taught me to think on my feet and alter the plans as necessary to keep the trial flowing. Yet another way that being a lawyer and a teacher are similar. You need to be able to think on your feet. Maybe a lesson is better suited to be moved outside. Maybe the technology isn’t quite working the way it should. Maybe you flip flop your day to do a different activity that is better suited to the flow of the day. Maybe it’s taking longer for a lesson to be understood. In any event, you need to be able to think on your feet to keep the day moving.

You need to be curious and always learning. Who would have ever expected there would be a time when are children would be learning virtually? This was a pivot that required adjustment in how teachers teach and how students learn. Role as lawyer and educator are similar in this regard as well. Technology is always changing, ways to share and communicate information-lessons are always changing. We need to continually be a student. Truth be told, last year when we made the switch to virtual learning, as I set up our home base and started taking out all the materials from the closet to. make it feel like school I joked “I’ve been preparing for this my whole mom life.” While it’s funny, it’s true. At each stage I was always researching ways to continue the learning at home. I’m not sure who gets more excited to go to Lakeshore Learning- me or the boys. Educationally tools and toys have always been a part of our home, along with reading, lots and lots of reading. I’ve been so excited to be able to continue to learn and grow along.

Finally, both are truly rewarding. While there is nothing quite like waiting for a jury verdict to return in your favor and the appreciation of the victim and/or their family there is something to truly be said for helping a kindergartner write a story or see connections made with a book, faces light up when you make kinetic sand, etc. etc. While I’m a far way from a business suit and pumps I couldn’t be happier with this phase of life. This all ties back into my recent post about finding joy in what you do and having the ability to recreate yourself at the different stages of life. While I always thought I would only ever practice law, I’m now a firm believer that we no longer have to do one thing in life, that we have the ability to continue to reimagine what we are going to be when we “grow up.” We are continually growing and adapting with our circumstances. This boy mom to two couldn’t imagine being anywhere but at school watching them learn and grow, while she’s doing the same thing!

Air travel March 2020 vs. March 2021

The Coronavirus pandemic has certainly altered travel, air travel in particular. While we were accustomed to flying frequently with our boys, even when they were young we’ve literally been grounded for a full year. With several members of our family living in Arizona this has been really sad and frustrating for the boys not to see some of their cousins, aunt, uncle and grandparents. I know that we aren’t alone in not being able to see family and travel, so this isn’t a boo hoo you can’t fly/travel post. Rather, it’s a post comparing travel during the same weekend one year apart. What a difference a year makes.

Let me take you back to March 14, 2020. This is the time when literally information was updating by the hour as to what you could and couldn’t do, what you should and shouldn’t do and anxieties were really high about making the right choices when in all honesty we didn’t really have all the information we needed. The plan had been for me to fly to Arizona with the boys (at the time 4 and 6) on Saturday, March 14 and return on Wednesday, March 18. I went from being nervous about flying with both boys by myself to concerned that air travel might get grounded while we were away. This wasn’t so out of the realm of possibility as international air travel had been halted. What to do? If you’ve read my other posts you know that my Dad suffers from Alzheimer’s. Between school schedules, crazy hot summer weather in Arizona, etc March is the ideal time for us to visit and generally when we do. We considered moving the trip to the summer. But in my gut, I knew that if we didn’t go in March I wasn’t quite sure when we would have the chance to get the boys out there to see him. Thank goodness we went, come June the metrics were off the charts in Arizona and there would have been no visit!

Backing up a little bit and to give a point of reference, I flew on October 11, 2001. Yes, literally one month after the tragic events of September 11th. The airports were eerily quiet. And there was still a great deal of uncertainty, new security measures were being introduced. It was a very different time in air travel. Now back to 2020. I was filled with nerves about traveling. We of course were not at this point wearing masks. And as we know, kids touch EVERYTHING. So I was like a drill sergeant in the airport. Some might say this isn’t much different from my normal approach in the airport. We were trying to sit as far away from people as possible. Wiping everything down with Clorox wipes, sanitizing the boys’ hands after the touched anything. On every TV were updates about Coronavirus that just added to my concern in taking the trip. The airport was significantly quieter than usual. Clearly people were staying home! While that made things easier for me, it also made me question what in the world I was thinking flying with the boys. With the concern that flights might be grounded I rented a car in Arizona for the day we were scheduled to return. I was planning ahead…you know in case I had to drive from Arizona to Maryland with my boys. While this sounds like a great adventure, can we think just for a moment what that would have been like?? Thirty six hours in the car…oh my!

Ok, so back to March 14, 2020. No masks. No new purifying systems on airplanes. No new sanitizing procedures. So I just wiped everything down when we got on the plane and literally hoped for the best. To be fair, at that time I really didn’t have a full appreciation for COVID, none of us could have predicted the tremendous impact that it would have on our lives or the number of lives that would be lost. We flew Southwest and so I flew three across with the boys. We were somewhat protected as we didn’t have anyone else in our row. Snack and drink service still happened. Fast forward to March 18- four days later. We are still not wearing masks. Trying to stay as far away from people as possible. Hand sanitizing and wiping things down like crazy people. Here’s the first change- no snack/drink service on the flight. Changes were afoot to keep social distance and safety while in the air. This is somewhat laughable considering how close together we all sit on an airplane but it was the first step. In hindsight I feel extremely fortunate that we made this trip. It was like the last hoorah so to speak before we would hunker down and be home for months on end.

For the last year, we have literally gone no where. I mean, not no where, but beyond our pod family we haven’t seen anyone inside without masks. But for going to school, we haven’t been going other places. I rarely go into a store. Online shopping is my jam. We are one extreme in regards to staying safe and stopping the spread. But it became time that I needed to make that trip to Arizona again. So it meant that I was going to have to fly. Cue all sorts of anxiety. I haven’t been that close to people other than my family in a year. And let’s be honest, I was never too excited sitting that close to people anyway. Fortunately, in my role as a substitute teacher had the opportunity to get vaccinated. So in essence, I know in my mind that I should be protected, but again I feel like we don’t really know about the vaccine and ability to transfer the virus, whether you can still get the virus and be without symptoms. I worried about bringing Covid home and giving it to my family. Needless to say, the weeks leading up to what would amount to less than two days on the ground in Arizona were stress filled with what ifs and concerns about flying. Of course this is Spring Break time and everyone is apparently ready to go on vacation.

My flight to Arizona was on Friday, March 12. Why is this significant? Literally one year ago that was the last time the boys were in school for that school year. The two weeks to flatten the curve that turned into home until August. There have been so many reflections on what the year has meant and how are lives have changed. I subbed like usual and then drove to the airport. You know, how I recently posted talking a good game about not having mom guilt about traveling. Yeah, I’m still working on that one. I was filled with mom guilt about leaving. Yes, I knew they would be fine and have fun with my husband! When I got to the parking garage I noticed how crowded it was, like “normal.” Ugh. I masked up and headed to the terminal. A pleasant surprise there was NO ONE in the security line. As in not another person. Amazing, maybe the airport won’t be so crowded I thought. One noted change in the year since I had flown- rather than had you ID to the TSA Agent you slide it into a card reader. An image then appears on the Agent’s computer. He asked me to remove my mask to compare the photos. I took my ID and I was on my way. Now to get something to eat. The tables in the food court area were more spread out. There were of course reminders to wear your mask and keep your distance. There were dots to stand on to order food in an attempt to keep people distanced. I’m not going to lie, some of this seemed silly to me. I 100% understand keeping distance, but seriously we are about to all sit on top of each other on an airplane. I quickly got my food and rather than sit at a table picked a bench further away from people so I could hurry up and eat. I had pre-packed snacks for the flight but stopped to get water and a soda for the flight. As I approached the gate areas I noticed it was VERY crowded. Lots and lots of people!! I detoured to get an “adult beverage” and sit away from the gate for a bit. FYI it’s against federal air regulations to consume your own alcohol on a flight. Before I knew it, it was time to board. My goal was to make myself seem undesirable to sit next too. I joke, but seriously, I really didn’t want that middle seat to be full. Jokes on me because it was a FULL flight. Out came my face shield. While it was definitely toasty in there, I felt like it was providing an extra level of protection that put me a little more at ease.

I must say that plane itself felt the cleanest I’ve seen a plane in a long time. With that said, I tried to touch as little as possible. I only removed the bare necessities from my bag to use during the flight. Some of this, I’m sure is just my personality. Others were completely comfortable with flying. There were even families with children. The flight crew were clear about expectations regarding wearing a mask and that means over your NOSE and MOUTH. The only food service provided was water and pretzels/brownie bites. I’m not going to lie, it was the longest five and a half hours of my life. I was ready to jump off the plane when it landed. Again, the jokes on me as they had trouble getting the cabin door open. It’s much funnier now, then it was at the time!

Sunday, March 14 time to fly home. This flight was at 1:20 PM Arizona time. I was curious to see what I would find in the airport at a “prime” flying time. While the airport was crowded, security again was light and quick. Unlike in Baltimore, I had to hand the TSA Agent my ID for him to examine. Mask down to confirm I was the person on the ID and then through security. The terminal was PACKED with people. Again, I grabbed a quick bite to eat and tried to get as far away from people as possible to eat. As luck would have it this flight was also FULL. I was feeling a little less anxious about it as I knew I was just over four hours away from home. Face shield on. Kindle out. Let’s do this. I must again commend the flight crew as they were diligent in making sure folks kept their masks on properly. The limited service of water and a snack were offered. No problems with the door when we landed to I hit the ground running to get out of there! Much to my surprise at 8:30 at night (which felt like midnight) the airport was hopping. The main security check line was LONG. I was truly surprised to see so many people in the airport.

I recognize that others have been flying for work and pleasure without having missed a beat over the last year. But for someone who has basically been no where but home this trip felt like flying for the first time all over again. I must admit that I’m curious to see what precautions stay in place going forward with air travel. I imagine that it will continue to get more and more back to “normal.” I’m just not certain what “normal” looks like in a post Covid world.

I’d love to hear, have you been traveling? How have you found the experience? Share in the comments below!