Author: Jennifer Wood Laird
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Would You Go Back to High School in a Heartbeat?
The beach will have to wait this morning while we wait for the clock to tick 9:45, so my son can register for his Junior year of high school. His biggest decision this morning will be whether to take AP Chemistry or Honors Chemistry next year while postponing the other until Senior year. Really? This…
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Florida Jen-Do You Have a Vacation Name?
Vacation is upon us and my husband is wondering if Florida Jen will be making an appearance this week. Frankly, I think it’s the only reason he booked the trip; his fingers crossed he will get a glimpse of the rowdy and rambunctious woman he loves. Last year, I earned the nickname after a very…
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Dear Daughter A: Words Before Womanhood Begins
Dear Daughter A, I know you are anxiously awaiting the leap into womanhood. Everywhere you go, you are preparing for this noteworthy moment. Before you begin, I have some words of advice I’m hoping you’ll consider. It’s perfectly acceptable to keep your young self around for advice and enlightenment. You know her best, and she…
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Give My Husband Some Love, Please!
Also known as my fourth child, my tall and funny husband is in need of some love and attention, please. Regarded by some as the “coolest guy in pharmacy,” the man works his tail off to provide for our family, attend all kid-related activities and coach several of their sports. So, you would think he…
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Teenagers: Transitioning to Adulthood With An Occasional Toddler Pitstop.
Every so often, I managed to lock in a few minutes with my very busy, teenage son. He’s a three sport, student athlete living the lap of high school luxury and enjoying his friends’ new found freedom of cars and licenses. We never really see him unless it’s from the bleachers or the daily, anticipated…
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#50 Precious Words
Today, I’m sharing my entry for Vivian Kirkfield’s #50PreciousWords (Twitter) Writing Contest. The rules are simple: write a story for kids (12 and under) in 50 or less words. This writing contest is an exercise in choice; the writer must be scrupulous in word choice. Each word counts and makes a difference in syntax and…
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Write Your Own Obituary. Do or Die!
Recently, in our town’s visitor guide, there was a piece written by Wall Street Journal author, James R. Hagerty, who wrote a book featuring a collection of obituaries called Yours Truly: An Obituary Writer’s Guide to Telling Your Story. The book was also a call to write your own obituary. His challenge was two fold:…
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10 Things I’ve Been Meaning to Say
If you haven’t read Jason Reynold’s article 10 Things I’ve Been Meaning to Say, it’s advice to young people. Per the suggestion of educator /writer, Kelly Gallagher, I used the article as a mentor text in an English 9 classroom. The purpose was to persuade my students to write daily (10 minutes/1 page a day).…
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My Pandemic Flannel
Oddly enough, the last time I participated in SOL was in March 2020, so my first post will be written in my “pandemic flannel.” Over the years, I find myself reaching for in it times of need, and Monday was one the those days. Winter’s devils, Snow and Ice, arrived again early Monday and shut…
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Make Your Mark
It’s innate in my personality; I was born this way. For decades, I have been trying to ease the burdens my friends and family possess by sharing my time, my advice, and sometimes taking on their heavy lifting. I love creating unexpected surprises and smiles. Day after day, I continue to see this trait of…
Jennifer Wood Laird 