Category Archives: lessons learned

In loco parentis: real life role conflict and role strain

Thanks for not giving up on the blog and me.  September and October knocked me down, but I am slowly standing back up. Everywhere I look, all I see are Rogue Cheerios.  Residuals from my work and personal life are … Continue reading

Posted in academia, family, higher education, kids, lessons learned, motherhood, parenthood, personal, sociology, students, teaching, work | Leave a comment

The writing is the reward

If you’re a teacher, you are probably wondering where September went.  I know I am pretty amazed at how many things happened in the last month and how quickly this semester is flying.  In this first semester of non-graduate, non-dissertating … Continue reading

Posted in blogging, lessons learned, teaching, writing | 2 Comments

On social media: [sometimes] you say it best when you say nothing at all

With so many channels for communication, it is incredible if anything stays private. News, no matter how big or small, travels quickly.  Is it possible for the thinking brain to internalize, recall, or reflect on so much information?  What about … Continue reading

Posted in being jewish, blogging, community, family, holidays, lessons learned, media, personal, social media, work, writing | 4 Comments

Persistence in the face of unrelenting mediocrity

After many summers of failing miserably at tending to vegetable plants, I have resigned myself to the realization that I am not a great gardener. Do you hear me, husband?  I stink at gardening. I am not even a little … Continue reading

Posted in academia, blogging, lessons learned, personal, research, students, teaching, work, writing | 4 Comments

A very merry un-birthday to Rogue Cheerios!

So, my one year anniversary of the blog came and went with little fanfare yesterday.  I can hardly believe that I have been blogging for a whole year.  My husband can hardly believe it either. When I first thought about … Continue reading

Posted in academia, blogging, community, lessons learned, motherhood, parenthood, personal, writing | 2 Comments

Unfounded parenting guilt on the first day of school

In my four years as a parent, I have not found one person who thought that they had it together all of the time.  I have met some folks who project a put-together image and I have met some folks who … Continue reading

Posted in family, kids, lessons learned, motherhood, parenthood, personal, schools, summer, Uncategorized, vacation, work | 3 Comments

The calm before the storm: on course prep and a reality check

I need to get over myself. I am doing exactly what I have done for semesters now: I am over prepping my courses. I’m paralyzed thinking about updating the syllabus for a course I’ve already taught because I know it … Continue reading

Posted in academia, higher education, lessons learned, reading, schools, students, teaching, work, writing | 1 Comment

A tale of two conferences: the postmortem on ASA in New York

Last weekend in New York City was productive and fun. I saw some old friends and met lots several new people (in real life and via Twitter).  I picked up some inventive teaching ideas.  I heard (mostly) first-rate research presentations. … Continue reading

Posted in academia, higher education, lessons learned, research, sociology, teaching, work, writing | Tagged | Leave a comment

Surviving (and thriving) at the annual academic meeting

Two thousand sociologists in one place? Sounds like a crazy time. This will be the eighth year that I’ll attend an academic conference.  I try to go to two meetings a year (one local and one national), depending on where … Continue reading

Posted in academia, blogging, coffee, community, fashion, grad school, higher education, lessons learned, sociology, travel, work | Tagged | 1 Comment

Is it possible to have status in academe without tenure?

This past year, I served as a “Visiting Lecturer” at a private, liberal arts college and this coming year, I’ll be a “Visiting Assistant Professor”.  I used to think “visiting” sounded really distinctive, like your talents were so specialized that … Continue reading

Posted in academia, dissertation, grad school, higher education, lessons learned, popular press, sociology, teaching, tenure, work, writing | 7 Comments