by Monica Wiant | Oct 18, 2016 | Personal
Every parent gets the email, amidst field trip announcements and gentle reminders about snack policies. Subject: Head lice was reported in your child’s classroom. It’s an ordinary thing, an email you can delete. It’s always someone else’s kid.Until it isn’t.Ours...
by Monica Wiant | Oct 4, 2016 | Personal, Poland Project
While translating my grandparents’ memoirs for The Poland Project, I’ve had a lot of help from Google Translate. I grew up bilingual, but my Polish is rusty and my vocabulary falls painfully short in areas like World War II weaponry and spy tactics.Google Translate is...
by Monica Wiant | May 26, 2016 | Personal, Poland Project
It began with a third grade assignment. Evie needed to interview an older relative for a history report. Three generations sat down at my mom’s kitchen table in Fargo. “What were your parents like?” Evie asked my mother.She tugged a thread, gently, and a...
by Monica Wiant | May 1, 2016 | Personal
“I hope you win!” my daughter said the first time I told her I was running a race. I laughed. A more realistic goal is to finish without injury, and to not delay the people picking up the traffic cones. I’m slow. I’m overweight....
by Monica Wiant | Mar 21, 2016 | Personal
Dear Evie,Nine years. Nearly double-digits. It’s hard to believe that I’m writing to you again already.Eight was great. You went to your first rock concert, you learned to snowboard, and you tried kayaking. You joined your first basketball team; I think you found your...
by Monica Wiant | Jan 22, 2016 | Personal
There were plenty of reasons for a responsible adult like me to skip this concert: It was a weeknight. We have kids. It was the same night as an important work event. I like going to bed at 9 p.m.Sam and I tend to regret the adventures we don’t take more than the ones...
