Author: Lindsey P. Brackett

When I'm not wrangling four kids and a middle school classroom, I sit on my back porch in the mountains and write southern fiction that's short and long. I believe in Jesus, library fines, supper at the table, the Edislow life, and strong coffee. Pretty much in that order.
30 Blog Challenge · Frantic Friday

Frantic Friday

Lindsey P. Brackett1 Comment

As long as it’s weird to say I like Mondays, I might as well admit that I find Fridays pretty tough.  By Friday we’re tired.  Exhausted.  Flattened.  Drained. 

The result is frantic.  We tend to oversleep on Fridays and rush through our morning in 45 minutes or less.  I forget things and am not motivated to prepare for the next week.  The girls are whiny and grouchy and gearing for meltdowns.

Ah, but the beautiful thing about Fridays happens about mid-afternoon when I start to perk up and realize that I don’t have to rush through tomorrow morning, or worry about an unplanned lesson, or stress that Amelia may not have enough milk for her breakfast feeding.

Because tomorrow is Saturday.  Lovely, simple Saturday.

30 Blog Challenge · madelynne

Random Acts of….Runaways

Lindsey P. Brackett5 Comments

Tonight after a less than perfect day of kindergarten and an afternoon of meltdowns, Madelynne announced she was running away.  The only true way to capture this moment of assertive independence is through the following transcript.  I’m the italics, obviously.

Mommy, I am just going to run away.  What do you think about that?


I think you need to eat supper first.

Well, after supper I am just going to run away to the backyard.

Oh.  Well, where are you going to sleep?

In the tent.

Hmmm.  That’s hard to set up by yourself.  Would you like some help?

Yes.  After supper you can help me run away.

Okay.

Actually, Mommy, I think I might run away to Mrs. Mary Lynn’s house instead.  I promise to walk in the grass when I go on the road.

Oh, really?  What if Mrs. Mary Lynn doesn’t have enough room for you?

She does.  I can sleep on the sofa.

Well, alright.  Here’s your supper.

a few minutes later…

Mommy, I am going to pack now.  You need to help me.

What if Mrs. Mary Lynn isn’t home?

a phone call is placed.  there’s no answer.


Maybe you should stay here a little while and take a bath first.

I could just take a bath at Mrs. Mary Lynn’s.

No.  She has boys and you can’t take a bath with them.  Come get in Mommy’s big tub and pretend it’s a swimming pool.

Can I wear my bathing suit?

Sure.

after bath is over….

Mommy, I’m all packed to go to Mrs. Mary Lynn’s.  I think I need some food, though, like marshmallows.

You know, Madelynne, it’s almost dark.  Maybe you should wait until tomorrow.

Tomorrow you will take me there to run away?

Tomorrow I will take you to run away.

Okay, then.  I’ll run away tomorrow.

30 Blog Challenge · Manic Monday

Manic Monday

Lindsey P. Brackett3 Comments

I have a confession.  I like Mondays.  I know I’m not supposed to.  That Mondays are to be disliked on principle of the fact that they are Mondays.  The first day of the work week and the first day back after what was (hopefully) a weekend of rest.

And they are a little manic.  For instance, Amelia got to wait for the bus at school today because I was running too late to take her first.  My principal said she was a little short for middle school.  And then once I left and was still on time to get back to school, I realized I had to go home to get my pump.  Oh, well.  Manic Monday.

But even so, I like Mondays.  I have more energy on Mondays.  My students are more subdued.  I actually cook dinner most Monday nights (there’s a pork loin in the crockpot right now) and I have even been known to clean a bathroom or mop a floor on Monday.  Today I might even make it to exercise.

I guess Monday just seems like a new beginning every week.  You know teachers and mommies are eternal optomists.  We get up each day believing the it will be better, whether it’s the student’s attitudes or baby’s sleeping habits.   And on Mondays I guess I just have that extra boost of faith.  If today goes well, so will the week.

What do you think about Monday?

30 Blog Challenge · madelynne · school

Kindergarten Meltdown

Lindsey P. BrackettLeave a comment

I have made an important discovery this week.  Kindergarten causes meltdowns.

Now, at first I thought it was just me.  Well, just Madelynne.  But I have been discussing these, um, situations with other moms of new kindergarteners and we’ve figured it out.

They spend all day being so good that they just explode when they arrive home.  Now I know that I should be grateful that she behaves for her teacher and other adults, that she feels safe at home and knows we will love her no matter how bad the meltdown may be, but seriously?  I’d like to get to experience the politeness and sweetness that I know is somewhere in the middle of all that meldown.

I mean, after all, I did give her life, so I figure I’m entitled to the good child every once in a while.

and that completes #2 of the 30 Day Blog Challenge 😉

30 Blog Challenge

Random Acts of….Blogging

Lindsey P. Brackett3 Comments

I just joined the 30 Day Blog Challenge to keep me accountable to the thing I really enjoy and hope to someday actually make a career: writing.

So here’s the challenge, five blogs a week for six weeks.  Are you ready for a whole lot of Brackett randomness?  The good news is I just started back to school which means I can now not only fill posts with lots of Madelynne and Annabelle-isms, but middle-school-student-isms too! (all un-named of course)

Does this post count I wonder?