It’s Monday, and I am quickly getting addicted to posting poems here. Today it’s Anne Sexton, and I’m just posting the second half of the poem. This speaks to the deep love one has for their offspring, even as it’s a poem giving warning to a special person. Let’s not plumb the depths of despair […]
Author: Nancy Schatz Alton
Assume Positive Intent
Have you ever seen the tagline “Assume Positive Intent”? I think I first saw it on a friend’s email signature years ago. It stood out, making me think how often I assume negative intent. This reminds me of parenting. When one of my girls is throwing a fit or being flip with me, sometimes it […]
Being Known
Hey folks. It’s Friday of spring break for us. It’s also my first day back teaching writing. This session I’m teaching teens non-fiction writing. I need to sharpen pencils and organize my supplies. So I’ve read some poetry and decided to post one of mine instead of continuing the search for a perfect poem for […]
Ahh, Motherhood
I’m thrilled to share a local poet’s work today. Kelli Russell Agodon’s website bio states that she “lives in small seaside community in Washington State.” Yes, she lives near me and she infuses the entire Pacific Northwest with her teaching skills. Lucky us! I’ve taken a generative poetry writing class taught by Kelli and Susan […]
Vulnerability
Today’s poem really speaks to me. Part of this is because many of my poems are like this, written in this style. But really it’s because this poem speaks to those really hard moments in parenting. There I am, with one of my daughters, and she is really upset and I know she is going […]
Being Here
I’m back with April’s Poetry for Parents. I just returned from the Olympic Peninsula, where my family of four has spent the last three Easters. We all love it, and I love that my daughters will love this place fiercely, this place where we are all as present as can be, spending time together. We […]
Homework Afterthoughts
Is afterthought a word? I think it is. I have many afterthoughts about homework with my children. Often they come to me in poems.Writing poems is how I make sense of my brain and the world around me. Today I’m posting what amounts to a rough draft, since it’s by me. I dash of poetry […]
The Open Window
Poet Deborah Keenan‘s writing came to me like an open window that I had to jump through while I was in my early twenties. I had just finished college, and I had heard of her because she went to my college (Macalester) years before me and she had supposedly married an English professor from the […]
Poetry for Parents
Recently a friend suggested that I make a place on my blog for poetry that speaks to parents. And here it is, April, poetry month. Well, why not post a poem a day that has special resonance for parents? Here goes. Thanks for the great idea, Kerry Colburn! I can’t promise there will be a […]
When Conversation Isn’t Casual
“I’d like a nap, but the kids are maybe the reason that won’t happen,” I said. “I don’t know, you look pretty fulfilled,” said the Fred Meyer clerk. “I mean, I don’t have kids, but how old are yours?” If this conversation wasn’t weird enough already, it takes a turn for the even weirder here. […]