WriteRunRead Blog

Has anyone noticed the direct inverse relationship between whether school is in session and a kid’s mood?   What about how this correlation can be extended to the parents of kids in school? Somehow, since I was a child, the homework and studying and gigantic, time-consuming, creative projects have fallen – in large measure - on the laps of the parents. Why is my daughter’s poster and book report “our project?”  Why are parents making note cards and studying for hours with their kids?  Yes, we are there for love and support and help in understanding how to multiply and divide fractions, but I would argue that many of us have taken the task of “helping” our kids with their homework a little too far. One clear indication of this phenomenon is the sheer relief I hear parents uttering at the end of the school year. “Whew, we did it, another year is over, it’s summer, time to relax!” Why are we breathing a sigh of relief?  If it’s because we don’t have to prepare ...

I just finished reading "On The Island" by Tracy Garvis Graves.  It's a good book.  Written well, the story flowed, I didn't need to subconsciously edit anything, but for some minor corny lines.  But that's okay, it was part of the charm. The story is simple: a 30 year-old woman (English teacher) and a 17 year-old boy are stranded on a deserted island.  Their chartered seaplane went down en route to his family's summer vacation spot in the Maldives, where she was to be his tutor.  He recently went into remission from cancer and missed a great deal of school. I was reminded of Blue Lagoon, just add a 13 year age gap.  It was an endearing story, told succinctly and smartly.  The author didn't waste a minute of my time.  I was entertained, read the book in two days and I am happy I read it.  While the characters are familiar to me, they were not deeply developed.  But still, I really, really liked this book.  The plot was predictab...