A Quiet Life

Hello, dear readers. Today, both my brothers are heading across the country to good ole San Diego. One of my brothers has been in San Diego for almost a year now. However, my other brother will be leaving home for college for the first time. It feels strange to write this, even though we've all been talking about this day for months, discussing packing lists, living essentials, and what clothes to bring. Part of me is so excited for him. He is ready for this. He has been craving independence in a way that feels familiar-the same I do when I think about getting my own apartment in a few months, wanting my own space and my own schedule. He has worked hard to get here. He deserves every good thing that is waiting for him on the other side of this move.  But I would be lying if I said it did not sting a little, too. We are not the kind of siblings who text every day or spill our deepest darkest secrets, but he is still my brother. The one with whom I would argue over stupid things. The...

Hello, dear readers. I missed posting yesterday. I was in one of those moods where you just cannot quite get yourself to do anything, not because you are too busy, but because you simply do not have the motivation. So I let myself have the day. I curled up on the couch and watched Pulse on Netflix, and did not move much beyond that. Today, I did a tiny bit more. I went to the store, which felt like an accomplishment, honestly. And I unfortunately went ahead and created that Bumble account I was hesitant about. I looked at a few profiles, but no one really stood out to me. Except for one guy, with whom I responded but have yet to receive a message back. Typical dating app fashion.  Additionally, I am a bit concerned about my kidneys. I have had this weird on-and-off pain that is making me paranoid about a possible kidney stone. I am probably spiraling for no reason (hello anxiety), but I have also had four kidney stones in the past. So as soon as I get back pain, my mind immediately...

Hello, dear readers.  Today was not an exciting day by any means. And honestly, that felt nice. We finally made it out of the heat wave that turned NYC into a toaster oven. The air felt lighter, cooler, and more breathable today. I took full advantage and stayed in bed until 10 am, watching reruns of The Closer . I think Kyra Sedgwick is a fantastic main character. Since staying in bed until 10 made me feel like a lazy lump, I needed to move my body. So I did a thirty-minute cardio aerobics workout right in my living room. It was much needed. Movement is magic. Even when it's awkward and sweaty, and one of those things you just might not want to do, you always feel better afterward. Later, I put on my “work brain” for a few hours. For my summer job, we have to create a skill progression for a 3rd to 8th grade STEM program where I work. Today, I spent some time researching different STEM programs to see what other schools are doing and the skills they are exposing their students to....

Hello, dear readers. I am back to write about an adventure I went on today. I visited the Anne Frank Exhibition at the Center for Jewish History in Manhattan with my dad and two brothers. I have been familiar with the story of Anne Frank for most of my life. I read The Diary of a Young Girl at some point in my educational career. But seeing her life unfold through audio stories, photos, letters, video clips, artifacts, and a remodel of what the attic looked like when she was in hiding brought a whole different layer to my understanding of her, of history, of humanity, of what it means to bear witness. The exhibition not only walks you through Anne’s life, but also through the rise of fascism, displacement, silence, and survival. There was one video that made me pause. A video showing one of Anne Frank's classes and blocking out the Jewish students who were sent to the concentration camps. Truly devastating     Visiting the exhibit made me think about how her writing...

Hello, dear readers. My name is Claudia. I am in my late 20s (27 to be exact), a special education teacher,  born and raised (and still residing in) NYC, a PhD student in Curriculum and Instruction, a dog mom, an introvert, and, for now, still living with my parents while I save to move into my first apartment seven months from now. This blog was a spur-of-the-moment idea. As someone who values quiet and the simple things in life, I needed a space to come to. Not a physical space but a mental one. A slower, softer space. One where I can reflect, process, and just be myself.  Right now, I’m in an “in-between” season of life. I am juggling a full-time teaching job and a doctoral program, both of which require a lot of outward energy. And for an introvert like myself, that energy is precious. Pretty much all days, I come home mentally tapped out-talked out, “on” all day, and just craving stillness, quietness.   I love the work I do. I love my students. However, the peop...