My oldest turns 16 today. My husband and I do not share their report cards, or their baseball stats, or their school awards on social media. Our lack of sharing is not from a lack of pride in their accomplishments but rather instilling in our children a desire to work hard to reach their goalsContinue reading “Another Year Older”
Author Archives: shannonarmenis
Clockwork
I have an affection for clocks. The oversized square clock that acts as a divider between my kitchen and family room. Its first home on a wall, in a failed restaurant my husband and I opened. When I spotted it on sale, a picture of it proudly displayed as a focal point flashed through myContinue reading “Clockwork”
Ghosts of Thanksgiving Past
My earliest memories of Thanksgiving always surround my grandparent’s rowhome on Kirkwood Road. A table extending two rooms with half of us seated in the dining room and half of us seated at the other end of the table in the living room. I spent most of my childhood living in the same neighborhood myContinue reading “Ghosts of Thanksgiving Past”
Climbing Marriage Mountain
My husband and I went to a wedding a few weeks ago and I have come to realize weddings are one of those things you either love attending or simply go because you feel obligated. I love weddings. Honestly, what’s not to love about an event surrounded by smiles layered with happiness and optimism, toppedContinue reading “Climbing Marriage Mountain”
Daughterless
It seems today, according to Facebook, is National Daughters Day. I am not even sure it is a real holiday, but each year the world of Facebook is hell-bent on reminding me of every person in my friend’s list that has received or birthed a child with a vagina, but me. If I soundContinue reading “Daughterless”
A Day to Remember
Everyone old enough to remember, remembers where they were on September 11th, the way my parents still remember the day John F. Kennedy was assasinated, even though they were only 6 years old. I remember the horror, watching as the second plane hit one of the Twin Towers. I remember the fear, when we allContinue reading “A Day to Remember”
The Last Kindergartener
My youngest heads to kindergarten this year. One, in a series of lasts for our family. The last baby to cradle, the last to place to sleep in a crib, the last to pose for the obligatory first day of kindergarten photo. Despite this being my actual third time at the kindergarten rodeo, it veryContinue reading “The Last Kindergartener”
Get Naked
I have written for years but only recently started sharing again. After a recent post, a couple of girlfriends reached out to me on a group text, to ask how I had never shared this secret of mine. The answer is simple – vulnerability. Whether you have a knack for putting together words and structuringContinue reading “Get Naked”
There Are No Sides, Just Paths
I have been quiet the past two weeks. Honestly, I think my brain is on complete overload and overwhelmed by all of the opinions, conflicting data and options concerning the school year. Unfortunately, schooling has become another addition to an already long list of divisive items accumulated in recent months. The notion that we canContinue reading “There Are No Sides, Just Paths”
Parenting Grace
An edited version of our family’s story about international plane travel, was shared on the TODAY Show media channels over the past few days. The unedited version can be found here. In true internet fashion, the opinions were abundant, both positive and negative. Many had been in a similar experience, but many clearly had notContinue reading “Parenting Grace”
Backyard Hindsight
Each spring, for years, my husband would throw grass seed in our backyard. As soon as the soft green spikes would begin to rise from the ground to make their presence known, they would disappear. His dream for a sea of backyard grass would be trampled by the feet of young boys and his hopeContinue reading “Backyard Hindsight”
Lessons Learned from a Cabbage Patch Kid
When I was 4, I dreamed of having my very own Cabbage Patch Kid doll. It was a fairly common dream in the minds of many little girls as the Christmas season approached, strategically stepping up the pressure on their parents a notch. It created what was known as the Cabbage Patch Craze in 1983,Continue reading “Lessons Learned from a Cabbage Patch Kid”
Dear Preschool Teacher
Dear Preschool Teacher, They say “you never have a second chance to make a first impression”. I repeated these words over and over in my head, last summer, as the days passed and the countdown began toward the first day of school for our son. We were worried. Worried his willful nature and impulsiveness wouldContinue reading “Dear Preschool Teacher”
Changes
I have hesitated to write about George Floyd and the current racial divide in our country. Not for fear, but because it seemed better suited as an opportunity for listening, rather than talking. As I watch city by city in this country burn and crumble from within, I am reminded that not only do weContinue reading “Changes”
The Petticoat Rulers
Photograph – JHHSM Collection 1958. 0263.001 In the past few days, I have been bombarded with articles, videos and comments sections filled with attack, finger pointing and hurtful words. Unfortunately, this rage is hurledContinue reading “The Petticoat Rulers”
XVI
I don’t remember the first time someone pointed out my astrological sign. I always found it presumptuous that a person would claim to understand anyone based simply on a day of the year they had entered the world. Maybe it’s the fact I was given a sign with the connotation of ravaging bodies and killingContinue reading “XVI”
Harmonizing
I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous when hitting publish on my last post. With the current climate in this country, expressing your feelings concerning any politics seems to almost guarantee emotional backlash. I asked for my husband’s opinion beforehand, not because I needed the approval but more for the nudge, since heContinue reading “Harmonizing”
Political Chess Match
I try my best to not involve myself in political banter, especially on social media, but today marks the third day in a row that I have read an article of yet another restaurant closing its doors in this state. This does not even include the small “Ma and Pa” shops that will never reopenContinue reading “Political Chess Match”
Find your Elephants
CREDIT: BIG LIFE FOUNDATION PHOTO/NICK BRAND While yelling at my kids the other day to get off electronics and find something productive to do, I came across aContinue reading “Find your Elephants”
Quarantine Grocery Shopping
One of my favorite authors is Glennon Doyle and for years she has repeated the mantra “We Can Do Hard Things”. Lovely, isn’t it? In fact, so lovely, I have not only embraced it but actually believed that I could do hard things. Unfortunately, it seems hard things may not be the area I needContinue reading “Quarantine Grocery Shopping”
Behind the Plane Ride
Lately, It seems as though every time I log on to social media, I am greeted by a video that has been posted and shared over and over. Some of these videos are harmless but more often than not, I find myself confronted with a recording of some poor soul in the midst of aContinue reading “Behind the Plane Ride”
DPW – Part 5
I gave Rudy a deadline of 48 hours to respond. He missed it, leading to another email… Dear Mr. Rudolph Chow,Remember that time I sent you an email about being overcharged and you sent me one back apologizing and said it was corrected and would never happen again? Yeah, me neither, so here I amContinue reading “DPW – Part 5”
Straight to the Top – DPW Part 4
After the last email, Robenia either quit her job or went into the Witness Protection Program because I never did hear from her again. However, I am not only competitive but do not give up that easily. So I accepted the challenge and after a little research found the email of Rudolph Chow, the Director ofContinue reading “Straight to the Top – DPW Part 4”
DPW part 3
Finally, I received a call from Ms. S who informs me that she was previously a supervisor in the Adjustments Department but had recently switched roles and departments. She did agree to credit my account and forward the request to someone in the Adjustments Department to be processed. She also gave me her contact informationContinue reading “DPW part 3”
DPW – Part 2
After my first email, I received a response from the City of Baltimore Department of Public Works stating that my account was being forwarded to the Adjustments Department and that I would be receiving a phone call from a Supervisor by the end of the next business day. January 12, 2018 Good Evening Ms. B,While IContinue reading “DPW – Part 2”
