Job burnout is a special type of job stress — a state of physical, emotional or mental exhaustion combined with doubts about your competence and the value of your work. Symptoms: Speaking or emailing in exclamation points—SURE I can do that! Ab-so-LUTE-ly! You’re the boss! Twitching eyes and/or gastrointestinal issues. Sitting in your car in the […]
Read More
“Mommy, I’m a big boy now. I can take a bath by myself,” my eight-year-old son says as he slingshots his Batman underwear into the hamper and dumps a bin of Lego into the tub. I wish I could say out loud — explain to him like I would to a reasonable adult — why this is […]
Read More
I taught Sasha Obama when she was in 6th grade both in her private school and privately. (I’m a voice teacher.) I met the whole family, even Grandma, during the performance where Sasha got to show off her singing skills in a very small, family-only gathering. Still, there were snipers on the roof and bomb sniffing […]
Read More
I am standing in the grocery store on an ordinary Tuesday in October, list in one hand, phone in the other. Like most people, I do not enjoy grocery shopping, especially since my son is usually with me jumping up and down, begging for every single shrink wrapped toy dangling within his reach. But, today, […]
Read More
It’s mid-July and the thermostat in my teaching trailer reads 85 degrees. Everything I am wearing—skirt, summer camp t-shirt, faded red espadrilles hiding unpainted toenails—is sticking to me and I haven’t even started teaching yet. I need to make a playlist. One that says, “I’m the cool new music teacher.” I lean over to open iTunes […]
Read More
March 23, 1995 New York City 2:25 p.m. At first I tried to push the thick, wooden door of the doctor’s office the way you push any door to exit a building, but it wouldn’t budge, so I turned and gave it a shove with my back and shoulder. It was then that I locked […]
Read More
A few nights ago, I had just turned off the light at the end of a long day and was looking forward to a good night’s sleep when my phone buzzed to let me know I had a Facebook notification. “Suzanne Frey Hawthorne has tagged you in a post.” Why is she tagging me at […]
Read More
“You better do your job, Timothy,” said Isabella. “The libarry looks fine to me,” he said, pushing his blonde bangs out of his face. “It’s library, not libarry,” said Isabella. “You have to put away all the books or you won’t get paid.” Timothy looked at the books scattered around the floor and then back at […]
Read More
Two guys are waiting in line for coffee. They strike up a conversation. About, say, baseball. They both like the same team. They both played short stop in high school. They fist bump and smile at the memories. The conversation turns to football. Their teams are rivals. Guy one is no longer enjoying the conversation. He […]
Read More
“Mommy, what is the sex?” Max asked, picking at the tag on his Batman pajama top. “Um, well, it’s complicated. We need to get to school. Today you get to finish your Leprechaun traps!” Thank God we’re running late. Again. I knew this day would come. I just had no idea it would be set […]
Read More
Pryvate Parts 