I’m not actively dating. I went off dating apps months ago, and I simply don’t have the time and energy to devote to dating. I do meet people when I go out, and plenty of men show interest in me. But now that I’m in my 40s and have a…

“We’re a team” — Two years ago, we took a family vacation to Cape Cod. My son’s father and I had broken up a few months before but hadn’t told anyone yet. We still had to figure out living and custody arrangements. Then we could sit down with our son, Vincent, who would be…

Here are some ways we manage it. — For the past year, my six-year-old son has been seeing a child psychologist. Every month, we go to the “play doctor,” where I sit in the waiting room as he engages in play therapy for 45 minutes. Then, the doctor calls me back to address my son’s issues and answer…

Vincent feels too warm, but I’m afraid to take off his blanket. If I move him, there’s a chance I’ll pinch or loosen the wires, prompting the machines to beep incessantly until a nurse comes in and presses the right buttons. Once Vincent wakes up, it takes a while to…

A few methods have proven successful in my classes with students of all ages and backgrounds. — Many articles, found in publications from Time Magazine to George Washington University, note how people’s attention spans are shrinking. One study out of Canada, cited in multiple articles, concluded that the average attention span is down to eight seconds. I teach writing courses at a community college. Considering these statistics…

June 2011 — The back room was decorated with gold and white balloons, a gift table covered in a gold tablecloth adorned with confetti, and floral centerpieces. The first person I saw was Devin’s best friend and maid-of-honor. We talked for about 10 minutes before people began settling at tables. “Is this seat…

My experience waiting tables strengthened my skills and cultivated compassion — When I go to a restaurant, I leave a note on the receipt for the server— something like “Thanks for doing such a great job!” or “Excellent service and loved the food.” Once, after having lunch with a friend at a place near grad school, I left a more detailed…

And they have nothing to do with money — When I created a Medium profile in January 2021, I didn’t fully understand the platform. I read multiple articles about formatting, publications, and distribution, which helped me navigate the website and create stories. I soon realized that Medium serves different purposes for different people. For me, writing is a hobby…

Before becoming a full-time English Instructor at a community college, I was an Academic Counselor for the Academic Opportunity Experience (AOE) program at a private liberal arts college. Housed under the Center for Student Success, the AOE office consisted of staff who took on roles of advisor, counselor, and program…