My wife and I wake together each morning and work side by side each day. Our evenings almost always unwind in unison, our breath gradually relaxing until it finally falls into a steady, almost singular rhythm.
Still, the magic of our minutes, undiluted together, are rare enough to consider them treasure.
Our days are spent moving back and forth from A to B, in and out and to and fro. With one child in 1st grade and another still in preschool, each with a different schedule and a 30 minute commute (each way) there are weeks when it seems as though the gas station gets more face time than either one of us.
We’ve been best friends for a dozen years. BC (before children) we were often drunk with both minutes and money. It’s amazing how children are a pox upon all we take for granted. We have since kept our tinder hot through consistent stolen moments and a full appreciation of what we do have together.
In Spetember all this will change. For the first time in 8 years, we will have lingering links of unbroken minutes while both children are safe in the same place at the same time for less than a sentence but longer than a sigh.
Halellujah times a hundred!
We have so much on our plate that if we only swallowed what was already cut in pieces we’d be lucky to get it chewed and half digested by September 2010, but I am eager to soar with her by my side.
When I started Writer Dad I gave all of us a nickname. Though Max and Mia‘s are going nowhere, it may be time to shed the artificial moniker of my lady. Her name came about pretty much the same as Max and Mia’s. I typed it once and it happened to stick. I’ve enjoyed referring to her as Daisy (once we were in WalMart and someone shouted Daisy. Her head spun around like a turret on a tank) and she has enjoyed diddling about on Namas Daisy, but it is nearly time for a more significant online presence and she’ll require a real name to back it.
May I introduce to you, my best friend and beautiful wife, Cindy Platt.
Cindy is a born teacher, writer, and architect of instruction; a twenty year veteran of varying scholarship, spanning Asia to Australia and a majority of the states that spread across the wider continent in between. She was multiple recipient of Teacher of the Year, for the Houston Unified School District; hand selected by Rod Paige, who served as our Secretary of Education for the United States from 2000 – 2004.
She is AWESOME.
I’m a writer, but so is she. For the rest of this week I’m handing off the reigns of Writer Dad. Writer Mom will carry you through to Friday and I will see you again next week with some long overdue changes finally blooming at the WD.
Until then,
About Sean Platt
Hi Cindy! Nice to meet you. Again!
I look forward to your posts. Are you going to be answering questions via video? I have this word association game, you see. First word, skunk.
:)
Hi Cindy! Nice to meet you. Again!
I look forward to your posts. Are you going to be answering questions via video? I have this word association game, you see. First word, skunk.
:)
Hello Cindy, it’s nice to meet you. And congratulations on being a ‘real’ person now! :) It takes guts to be our real selves online and it took me time to ‘come out’ too.
Sean, I love your writing. BC (Before Children) cracked me up, then I almost cried at the phrase “less than a sentence but longer than a sigh”. You truly have a gift for writing.
Hello Cindy, it’s nice to meet you. And congratulations on being a ‘real’ person now! :) It takes guts to be our real selves online and it took me time to ‘come out’ too.
Sean, I love your writing. BC (Before Children) cracked me up, then I almost cried at the phrase “less than a sentence but longer than a sigh”. You truly have a gift for writing.
As if by magic! There I was hoping to get to know more about Cindy through her wonderful writing, and here she’ll be. Excited about seeing the changes at WD!
Loved the way your pride and adoration glowed and flowed off the page. From what I’ve already learned, Cindy is pretty awesome!
As if by magic! There I was hoping to get to know more about Cindy through her wonderful writing, and here she’ll be. Excited about seeing the changes at WD!
Loved the way your pride and adoration glowed and flowed off the page. From what I’ve already learned, Cindy is pretty awesome!
I simply adore your meet-the-family series. Hello, Cindy!!
P.S. “Halellujah times a hundred!” You crack me up.
I simply adore your meet-the-family series. Hello, Cindy!!
P.S. “Halellujah times a hundred!” You crack me up.
It’s really sweet to have wife working along with you, and that too @ home !!! May God Bless both of you and your family !!
It’s really sweet to have wife working along with you, and that too @ home !!! May God Bless both of you and your family !!
Cindy,
So after seeing Sean, Mia, and Max, I’m guessing you are the quieter one of the bunch, the one who keeps the craziness from going too far? I’m so glad you are sharing your family with the Blogopolis. Your family’s loving and outgoing nature is a refreshing model.
Cindy,
So after seeing Sean, Mia, and Max, I’m guessing you are the quieter one of the bunch, the one who keeps the craziness from going too far? I’m so glad you are sharing your family with the Blogopolis. Your family’s loving and outgoing nature is a refreshing model.
What shall we be learning tomorrow, Teacher Cindy?
What shall we be learning tomorrow, Teacher Cindy?
Wow, I feel like I know your whole family now, and what a lucky family they are :)
Wow, I feel like I know your whole family now, and what a lucky family they are :)
It’s funny, but I’ve gotten to ‘know’ all of you so well that *finally* getting to meet Cindy is like waiting at the airport for a dear friend.
Hello Cindy! It is an honour and a pleasure to meet you finally! Eagerly awaiting to hear from you!
All the best! I’ll be reading!
Angie Haggstrom
Freedom Freelance
It’s funny, but I’ve gotten to ‘know’ all of you so well that *finally* getting to meet Cindy is like waiting at the airport for a dear friend.
Hello Cindy! It is an honour and a pleasure to meet you finally! Eagerly awaiting to hear from you!
All the best! I’ll be reading!
Angie Haggstrom
Freedom Freelance
@Writer Dad
You’re truly blessed to have such a wonderful family. Wife, kids, parents, grandparents. Everyone IS awesome.
But what if, just for once, you presented a family member, or a cousin, etc…and said:
“…this persons is an idiot..they SUCK!”.
I know that would never happen.
(But it WOULD be pretty funny, wouldn’t it?) :-)
Maybe in the Bizzaro Universe, perhaps.
@Writer Dad
You’re truly blessed to have such a wonderful family. Wife, kids, parents, grandparents. Everyone IS awesome.
But what if, just for once, you presented a family member, or a cousin, etc…and said:
“…this persons is an idiot..they SUCK!”.
I know that would never happen.
(But it WOULD be pretty funny, wouldn’t it?) :-)
Maybe in the Bizzaro Universe, perhaps.
Thank you for the introduction to Cindy and I look forward to reading her posts. You folks are very busy and full of fun projects and of course wonderful children.
I certainly enjoy your play with words – always a blessing.
Thank you for the introduction to Cindy and I look forward to reading her posts. You folks are very busy and full of fun projects and of course wonderful children.
I certainly enjoy your play with words – always a blessing.
HI Cindy! I love teaching as well and was my district’s TOY a couple of years ago so I know what a special award that is. It will be fun to have you chime in on the blog. Good luck!
HI Cindy! I love teaching as well and was my district’s TOY a couple of years ago so I know what a special award that is. It will be fun to have you chime in on the blog. Good luck!
Hey Writer Mom! Looking forward to your posts!
You and Sean are such an amazing couple. Your love and devotion to each other is obvious.
Hey Writer Mom! Looking forward to your posts!
You and Sean are such an amazing couple. Your love and devotion to each other is obvious.
Hello, Cindy!
I am glad that WD chose Daisy as your faux name. It suits you perfectly. Daisies say “clean,” “wholesome,” “energetic,” and “fresh” to me, and I could apply those same thoughts to you.
I loved Sean’s description, “Her head spun around like a turret on a tank,” of the time when someone said,”Daisy” in Walmart. Very good visual! I feel like that whenever any child says, “Mom,” when I am out in public, but I’m sure all moms do the same.
I’m excited that we get to hear from you all week. Write on!
Hello, Cindy!
I am glad that WD chose Daisy as your faux name. It suits you perfectly. Daisies say “clean,” “wholesome,” “energetic,” and “fresh” to me, and I could apply those same thoughts to you.
I loved Sean’s description, “Her head spun around like a turret on a tank,” of the time when someone said,”Daisy” in Walmart. Very good visual! I feel like that whenever any child says, “Mom,” when I am out in public, but I’m sure all moms do the same.
I’m excited that we get to hear from you all week. Write on!
Hello Everyone!
This time of the year for teachers is like tax time for accountants. Crushing deadlines in addition to the family “doo dads”: science fair projects, ballet folklorico preparation/final performances, recitals, balancing daily life happenings and doing it with a calm, positive, and” happy go lucky” demeanor. Mia is dancing with 99 other ballet folklorico dancers. My fingertips are recovering from hot glue gun injuries. 100 Aztec style costumes with hundreds of feet of gold trim equals a lot of glue sticks, a lot of laughter and perseverance because it is a labor of love. Lori, you got it spot on, I am the more quiet one of the family. Fiercely protective of my cubs, the blogosphere has been a world that has pushed me out of my comfort zone to apply what I do naturally in front of an audience of 35 children, a conference with 650 participants, a group of teachers at a workshop, or intimate learning time with my children. It does not feel completely natural to me and the private side of my personality feels more vulnerable in the virtual world. However, Sean and I have been collaborating and working through the infinite number of steps an endeavor like ours requires and we are excited to share with the world our discoveries. This week I will talk a bit about my favorite topics: writing and teaching.
Thank you everyone for your well wishes, positive thoughts, and yes Dave, I will play the word game with you.
Namesté,
Cindy
Hello Everyone!
This time of the year for teachers is like tax time for accountants. Crushing deadlines in addition to the family “doo dads”: science fair projects, ballet folklorico preparation/final performances, recitals, balancing daily life happenings and doing it with a calm, positive, and” happy go lucky” demeanor. Mia is dancing with 99 other ballet folklorico dancers. My fingertips are recovering from hot glue gun injuries. 100 Aztec style costumes with hundreds of feet of gold trim equals a lot of glue sticks, a lot of laughter and perseverance because it is a labor of love. Lori, you got it spot on, I am the more quiet one of the family. Fiercely protective of my cubs, the blogosphere has been a world that has pushed me out of my comfort zone to apply what I do naturally in front of an audience of 35 children, a conference with 650 participants, a group of teachers at a workshop, or intimate learning time with my children. It does not feel completely natural to me and the private side of my personality feels more vulnerable in the virtual world. However, Sean and I have been collaborating and working through the infinite number of steps an endeavor like ours requires and we are excited to share with the world our discoveries. This week I will talk a bit about my favorite topics: writing and teaching.
Thank you everyone for your well wishes, positive thoughts, and yes Dave, I will play the word game with you.
Namesté,
Cindy
Lovely to meet you Cindy. I know you’re just “visiting” here, but have tagged you about motherhood, if you wanna play in the future. Hope you don’t mind.
Thanks for a beautiful week of posts – a gorgeous insight into your lives together.
Lovely to meet you Cindy. I know you’re just “visiting” here, but have tagged you about motherhood, if you wanna play in the future. Hope you don’t mind.
Thanks for a beautiful week of posts – a gorgeous insight into your lives together.