Danielle Dayney

Tag: school

  • Grandpa’s Garden

    Grandpa’s Garden

    Before his stroke, Grandpa was my favorite. I would sit on his belly, round like Santa’s, and ask him if the battery above his heart hurt. I’d lightly press my fingers against the square shape protruding from his chest, and Grandpa would smile wide, toothlessly. “Naw, Baby Girl. That’s my ticker,” he’d say. I imagined…

  • If Confidence Were a Balloon

    If Confidence Were a Balloon

    Slumped beneath the weight of her backpack, my daughter slinked from the school bus steps. Her ocean-blue eyes had faded to stormy skies and her skin was muted. “How was your day?” I asked. I was concerned. Most days she raced off the steps with a grin so wide her eyes were shut. This day,…

  • Why Lockdown Drills Scare Me More Than My Child

    Why Lockdown Drills Scare Me More Than My Child

    Each day, I watch my daughter climb the steps of the big yellow school bus on her way to class. As it speeds off with her inside, it pulls the breath from my chest along with it. As much as I hate to admit it, the violent world we live in forces a small part…

  • 7 Tips to Give Your Child for a Great School Year

    7 Tips to Give Your Child for a Great School Year

    Whether it’s your child’s first day of Kindergarten, or last day of high school, we’ve been there and we know how scary it can be.  We also know everything will be fine, right? Tell her to keep her head high, follow this advice and sky’s the limit: Tell Her to be Brave Tell her not to…

  • Kindergarten Memoirs

    Kindergarten Memoirs

    Hi, my name is Reagan and guess what?  I finished kindergarten today! Even though it’s a really happy day, it’s been kinda sad, too. When we were waiting for the bus to pick me up, Mom’s face was red, and her eyes were a little wet.  I asked why she was crying, and she said they…

  • Bullying SUCKS.

    Bullying SUCKS.

    The year was 1993, I was in fifth grade and I’d finally convinced them (you know the ones – they had perfectly poof-y hair, the best bodysuits, gem-colored jeans, the newest sneakers and BOYFRIENDS) that I was cool enough to be part of their group.  I was IN, which took some diligent work on my…