Category: Parenting
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Best of: Big Bend Revisited
In my first post of 2020, I mentioned that I have been writing in this space for almost ten years. I first called the blog AlwaysOrange, but in recent years changed the name to aliciabrummeler.com. While I don’t have plans to stop blogging, I thought it would be memorable throughout 2020 to mark this milestone…
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Caregiving For All Seasons
These days, my role as a caregiver looks different than it did ten years ago. I have two young-adult children who can basically fend for themselves. But, I can still recall with vivid detail the season of life where my caregiving duties were in much more demand. From chauffeuring my kids to games and practices,…
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Spring Shorts
It’s April! Tulips bloom; birds sing; trees bud. It also means it’s time to dig out the spring and summer clothes. The other day I pulled out my short-sleeved shirts from storage and replaced the bin with my winter sweaters. Pushing my winter pieces to the back of the closet and moving the spring pieces…
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Fall Shorts
Today marks the first day of autumn. For this season-loving girl, the promise of sweater-wearing days, orange-colored soups, baked-apple desserts, and spice-scented candles fills me with happiness. To celebrate this day, Anna and I went to Starbucks and enjoyed warm drinks in festive cups. This weekend the fall decorations will come out of the box.…
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Cord Cutting
Dear Reader: I know. It’s been awhile since I posted to Always Orange. It would make me feel better if I explained why. For starters, the beginning of a new school year is always a busy time. From faculty meetings to classroom setup to lesson planning, the remaining days of summer vanish in a flurry…
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Post-Graduation Thoughts
Prior to Jake’s graduation, I wrote about all the “lasts” the week held. I attempted to articulate some of the thoughts I was experiencing as a mom of a soon-to-be high school graduate. Now, three weeks have passed. Graduation is over, the Open House a memory, and some more thoughts have bubbled to the surface.…
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Riding the Rollercoaster of the College Admissions Process
On Thursday evening, just past 6 pm, Jake heard from his last school regarding whether or not he was accepted for admission. The answer was yes and we all breathed a sigh of relief, but wow, what a month! (BTW, Emory University, Oxford Campus, Class of 2019) I am not the first person to write…
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Dealing with Disappointment
On the cusp of celebrating my 44th birthday, I have had my share of disappointments. From not making the cheerleading squad in ninth grade, to being told my running days were over, to hearing a “no” about a publication opportunity, I know what it is like to feel disappointed. In addition, I am a parent.…
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Another School-Year Beginning
Tomorrow my official duties as a teacher begin for the school year—even though the calendar says Saturday. Orientation for middle school students happens on the weekend so that come Monday morning we can hit the ground rolling. Tomorrow afternoon I will host a group of 7th grade girls in my living room for cookies and…
Alicia Brummeler 