A place to show my work
“Turn your wounds into wisdom.” – Oprah Winfrey
Between 1979 and 1984, Switzerland dropped more than 150,000 vaccine-loaded chicken heads a year into the countryside, all in an effort to end a rabies epidemic brought on by red foxes.
In response to Word of the Day Challenge- Quote
Questions tumble out of curious minds
Unexpected answers spark a grin
Oh, the fun of chasing ideas
Turning thoughts into little adventures
Every word a tiny spark
“I learned this, at least, by my experiment: that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”― Henry David Thoreau
At their peak in 1950, there were roughly seven hundred Tunnel of Love rides operating in the US. As public displays of affection and unchaperoned dates became more socially acceptable, they gradually disappeared. Their numbers were down to single digits as of 2022.
Rushing water falling over a cliff
like time slipping through the cracks,
a waterfall that roars with all we’ve lost,
pulling echoes into the deep
where memory dissolves.
“As if you could kill time without injuring eternity.” ― Henry David Thoreau
Raspberries, apples, pears, and cherries are all fruits that belong to the Rosaceae (rose) family. The genus Rubus includes raspberries as well as blackberries and dewberries.
Every week, a creative prompt will be offered to help you unleash your imagination and artistic skills.
You can share your response as art or any other creative expression inspired by the prompt.
There are no restrictions and no deadlines, so feel free to take your time and enjoy the creative process.
Remember to label your response with #missysmadchallenge.
Your challenge for this week
Should parenting classes be mandatory for new parents?
Yes, I think they should.
Not because parents are “unprepared” or “don’t know what they’re doing,” but because raising a human being is one of the most important responsibilities anyone can take on—and we don’t treat it that way. We expect people to just figure it out, often without support, guidance, or a community to lean on.
Parenting classes, when done well, aren’t about telling people how to raise their kids. They’re about giving families tools, confidence, and a foundation to build on. Things like:
To me, making parenting classes mandatory isn’t about control. It’s about equity. Not everyone grows up with healthy models of parenting. Not everyone has access to mentors, resources, or guidance. Classes level the playing field so every child has a better chance at a safe, stable, nurturing start.
And honestly, even the most loving, well‑intentioned parents benefit from learning, reflecting, and having a space to ask questions without judgment.
Parenting is too important to leave people to “figure it out” in the dark. If we can offer support before the overwhelm hits, why wouldn’t we?
Time moves fast—
so fast it slips between our fingers
before we even notice the warmth fading.
Hours blur into days,
days into years,
and we look back wondering
when the world changed
and how we changed with it.
We chase moments
as if we can outrun the clock,
but time is patient—
it waits for no one,
yet it never loses its pace.
In the end,
we learn to hold what we can,
to breathe in the present,
because everything moves fast,
and nothing stays long enough
to be taken for granted.
“Dreams are the touchstones of our characters.”― Henry David Thoreau
Jelly beans were associated with Christmas before they became an Easter candy.
Some subjects arrive like a weight on the table,
quiet but impossible to ignore.
A topic can sit between two people
like a closed door,
waiting for the courage
or the honesty
to turn the handle.
We circle it at first,
pretending the air hasn’t changed,
pretending we don’t feel the pull
of what must be said.
But truth has a way of leaning forward,
of clearing its throat
until silence becomes its own confession.
And when we finally speak,
The room shifts.
Not because the words are easy,
but because they are real—
and real things reshape us,
even when they hurt.
How feet glide and sway gracefully in time.
Beneath the starry night sky,
Joy moves forward in steps.
