I avoid taking the CTA these days. For one, it’s a big of a hassle with Teddy. How exactly am I supposed to hold down the button for the disabled entrance, push open the heavy door and drag the stroller through at once? Unclear. Then there’s the CTA’s stroller policy, complete with these signs. I […]
Posted inPluck
Pro-tip: my top 5 kid-friendly Chicago activities – summer edition
5. Hot and sunny day: This one is a no brainer, but of course you’ve got to hit the beach! I grew up in Michigan, so I’m no stranger to days at the lake. It’s lovely to get to share this slice of my rural childhood with my city kid. We usually frequent the beaches […]
Posted inTravel
50 States Club
Nationality: Canuck Occupation: Professional Econ Nerd How often do you travel for work? If I count up the days, I’m on the road about four or five months of the year. Frequent travelers talk in miles: 86,720 miles flown since January; I will probably hit around 100k for the year. How long did it take […]
Posted inRebellions Archive
Rebel Street Style: Bonnie / State & Madison
Occupation: Communications/Marketing Why: I feel like this is going to be a very vibrant summer. Everyone’s sick of crappy weather, and ready to celebrate something. Bonnie’s jazzy print dress illustrates our collective yearning: “Alright, we’ve had a couple warm days. Come on, Spring. Let’s get this party started.” I concur.
Posted inWomen-Owned Archive
Mata Traders: Empowering Women Across the World
Jonit Bookheim, Maureen Dunn, and Michelle Thomas are the founders of fair trade company Mata Traders, which sells everything from clothing to jewelry to home décor. You may have visited their Chicago retail location at the Andersonville Galleria (5247 N. Clark St.) or seen their items at their various other retail partners in the city. Their reach, […]
Posted inPluck
My childcare situation is perfect… except when it isn’t
Awhile back, I talked about my work/child care split with my husband for a reporter writing for Quill magazine, a publication that writes about journalism for journalists. The article was about work/life balance, and I was happy to talk, as working less and enjoying life more is a topic I’m passionate about. My husband Jeff works […]
Posted inPluck
What’s working right now – my parenting short game
Usually, I’m a proponent of long-game parenting. For Ida and me, the mullet model is often the right fit; take care of the business in the front so you can enjoy the party in the back. I ask myself “how does the way I’m interacting with Ida help her turn into a happy, capable adult […]
Posted inPluck
Having too much empathy for my kid, and then, not enough
Tonight we are going out. Whoopee! I am thrilled. Jeff and I are going to see a taping of “Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me,” one of our favorite public radio shows. I know – how geeky are we? But we’re pumped. However, this means leaving Teddy at night. Fortunately, I am leaving him with someone […]
Posted inPluck
Bad Mommy at the Playground
Yesterday, I read this great post from Kate Bassford Baker about letting your kids be at the playground: Dear Other Parents At The Park:Please do not lift my daughters to the top of the ladder, especially after you’ve just heard me tell them I wasn’t going to do it for them and encourage them to try […]
Posted inRebellious Women in Poetry
Y. Madrone’s ‘Tulip is the bravest flower, I mean bird’
Sometimes, I love a poem so much I want to crawl inside it and live there in a very tangible way, but because poems are words, I’ll have to let them live inside me. If you’ve ever felt displaced, replaced, misplaced, unplaced, out-of-place … then, well, you’ll feel this poem. Y. Madrone writes of the […]