New title, probably same level of abandonment for the blog

I changed the title of this space to better reflect the reality that we have come a long way from where this family was in the summer of 2015, when I finally came to terms with the idea that I would be getting divorced. 

I wrote a post to the kids back in June of 2015 and reading it now, I see that some of it didn't work out the way that I hoped but most importantly, it worked out. More messy at times than I wanted, and more expensive, always. There was not as much working as a team as I envisoned, but the kids, Galaxy Girl, and I are now at the very back end of the seven and a half year period that started when I filed for divorce. There are only 6 weeks left before we age out of the Divorce Decree that, in one form or another, has framed much of our life since the Spring of 2015. 

Looking forward, it seems weird. And extremely exciting. 

Truthfully, because of  things that went down a couple of years ago, not that much will change. The oldest is off at college, 4 hours from home. He settled on his parent's alma mater. The youngest has lived with us full time for a couple of years and plans to stay here to attend Junior College, much like the Old Man's start into semi-adulthood.

Still, this is the last couple of months of needing to concern myself with responses from the other side of the table. From here on out, Galaxy Girl, the Kids, and I get to have the relationship we design and desire. In the last seven years, the four of us have all done the work to make sure that our relationships survive intact and that we are ready for this new, awesome stage to come. 

18? Seriously? What the heck?!? Graduate? Seriously? What the heck?!? Redux

The Artist turns 18 in less than a month. Unlike with MaxiMe, I feel prepared and think that I likely can this time.

The Artist and I spend a LOT of time together. Always have, but it seems to be more rare with a late teenager. 

I was a stay-at-home parent for 8 years, from the time MaxiMe was about 12 weeks old, until The Artist started First Grade. During that time we enrolled The Artist in a preschool program that came highly recommended by neighbor moms. I ended up working there, so the youngest and I spent that time together, too. 

When the kids were in Middle School, I taught there. A couple of years ago I spent a year teaching at their High School. The running joke with The Artist trends toward whether or not I will teach at the community college where they have enrolled.

The Artist and I have a very close relationship and I am lucky and a better dad because of it. One of the best ways that I see we are still on the right track with the kids involves their relationship with Galaxy Girl, the bestest Bonus Mom, Other Mother, Main Mama, Step Mom who has stepped into the role. 

MaxiMe is in his Sophomore year, 4 hours away. He hit 20 a couple of months ago and is an incredibly intelligent and compassionate young man. He astounds me daily with his insights though like lots of modern parents, I mainly read these on Twitter. 

18? Seriously? What the heck?!? Graduate? Seriously? What the heck?!?

MaxiMe turns 18 tomorrow. I cannot



Well, here it is. Six months after I started this post. I never even came back to finish my original thought, so evidently I truly could not...

Last Friday night MaxiMe received his High School diploma. He’s headed to the same Uni where I finished up a long and glorious (or was is rambling and disjointed) BS degree about a millionty years ago. I’m excited and nervous and jealous as he sets out on this new adventure. With the Covid virus still raging, things are fluid and MaxiMe is having to find a level of flexibility that I would have never connected to at 18 years old.

He’s a great son. He’s a great human. He’s brilliant and hilarious. He’s kind and caring. He’s a people pleaser and an animal lover. I happen to think he’s handsome and a lot like me, too.

My main hope right now is that people treat him as well as he treats them. If so, the world is going to be OK.

It’s been another few minutes

So, you were getting married to your best girl the other day, while finishing grad school and raising two high schoolers. Then, a couple of years went by without writing any of it down.

The highlights:

TheFamily is doing terrific.

MaxiMe graduates from high school in a few months. College is in the plan. WHERE is still to be decided. Dad is hoping for less than an hour away :)

The Artist now lives most of the time here, with Galaxy Girl and me. We changed the custody plan a while back and our extra time together is awesome. Still have a couple of years of high school before I need to start pushing nearby colleges on The Artist.

Galaxy Girl has grown into the role of stepMOM in a way that is astounding and at the same time, not very surprising. Caring for people is what we do around here. She was taking care of her tribe well before meeting any of us. We are just lucky that we get the lioness’ share of her efforts nowadays.

I finished grad school. I passed all of the certification tests. I’m licensed as a public school administrator but still working as a Special Education teacher until the right spot opens up in campus administration. Hoping that I’ll be working as a campus Assistant Principal in the next couple of years.

Until then, I’m preparing for a return to the campus where I did most of my years as a teacher. I’m currently teaching at a high school, but I’ll be back on a middle school campus soon. I didn’t completely realize how important my “home” campus was to me until I left there over the summer. An opportunity to return opened up, and I’ll be back there soon.

And now for the noteworthy lowlights:

Yeah, I got nothin’ worth mentioning.



Yep. I am a lucky Dad. Can confirm.

Some things stay Special. For ev er.

Last I posted here, I was excited about branching out into a new part of public education. I was seeking out a teaching assignment that would allow me to start teaching either Language Arts or Social Studies. I was hopeful that I would be able to stay at the campus where I spent my my entire teaching career, and I wasn't really looking all that hard at teaching assignments that would have me change campuses.

At the start of last spring semester, I decided to start graduate school because I have a low tolerance for boredom. In the middle of the spring semester, Miss GG and I married because she has a high tolerance for talkative teachers who forget to mention that they have registered for graduate school (but that is another blog post entirely). By the end of the school year, it was obvious that if I wanted to move away from teaching Special Education, I would need to change campuses. So I chose to stay put. Still, in the middle of the summer I did interview for a new job, on my campus and in Special Education.

The new job would have taken me out of the classroom and shoved me into a 8x8 windowless office. Though I was excited to move to a new role, after completing the interview process, someone else was offered the job (and the luxury office). So I returned to the familiar, teaching Autistic students and students who struggle with communication and behavior, making it difficult to succeed in a classroom without some support.

This has been the start of a great year! My class is busting at the seams. I have a millionty-seven kids on my roll sheet. And I am glad that I returned to my same old, never-the-same classroom.

I have continued on with graduate school and will be a certified School Administrator/Principal in a few more months. Unlike the last time I went to a college class, I seem to be staying on schedule with my classes and I now have a GPA that I didn't know was a mathematical possibility in 1996. 4 more classes and I'll be done with school for ev er. Again. Until next time.

Big changes at school

I have worked with Special Education students in some way for over 30 years! That sounded really nuts the first time I said it out loud in a meeting this year.

I started showing an interest in my chosen field when I was IN middle school, and now I have spent almost 10 years teaching middle school special education. Even before entering the classroom as a teacher I was working with a similar group in a different setting.

After lots of soul searching and considering how to best move my career forward, I have made a monumental decision. I am leaving the special education classroom behind. At least for a while.

I have decided that I want to teach Social Studies or Language Arts classes on our 6th grade team next year. Because The Oldest and Youngest will both be at the High School next door, I have no interest in leaving my campus. I've been on staff here since 2010. Still, it is time for me to grow into a new role as a teacher.

Last week I was starting to change my mind. Even if my current job is crazy some days, there is comfort in knowing my role. Next year I'll be jumping into the classroom as a new teacher in a new subject. In a lot of ways, it will be like starting over.

I am looking forward to giving up a lot of the detailed paperwork that my current job requires. I won't be fooled into thinking there will be none in my new position, but it will be different paperwork.

3 weeks and counting

Galaxy Girl and I are getting married in less than 3 weeks!

It's sort of wedding crazy around here. There is lots left to do in a short time, but this time is a lot different than twenty 23 years ago.

There is lots of busyness, but there is very little stress. There is a lot of cash going out, but its been very thoughtful and purposeful spending. The lady is getting hitched in a dress she bought online. I'm wearing my best suit.

Later this month we will be spending a chunk of change on a great party. That's where we choose to spend our efforts and cash. We are getting married in a party space at a local restaurant.  All of the food and drinks will be top notch, and because everything will be done for us, we get to spend our time with friends and family. 

Cheers to a good time and a happy marriage!