Recent Posts
The Nebulosity of Categories and Where the Usefulness of Personal Labels Ends
My identity is multifaceted. Unlike Randy, whose primary label is 'trad Catholic', I don't hold one aspect of myself up as the core. Why not? Flexibility, and room for dialogue and change.
How We Live Debt-Free in a World of Chronic Debt
Debt is ingrained in the modern economy, but it’s not the best way to manage money or build wealth. We live debt-free, paid cash for a house, and can maintain our freedom on $20k/yr. How? Read on.
America Needs Strong Towns and Community, Not More Infrastructure
How do we build prosperity? The key is in little actions that have big payouts—because human cities are complex systems that learn and adapt, not complicated machines we can fix.
How We Are Intentionally Building Strong Community Ties
Before moving to Idaho, I'd never been part of a strong community. Now, my friends are people I can truly rely on—which is how it's supposed to be! Why is strong community so rare? And how can you build your own?
Adjusting to Life in North Idaho
How I began switching from being a full-time academic in Boston to some mishmash of stay-at-home-mom, scholar, gardener, and writer. Change is a process; here's part of the story.
Opting for Flexibility in Work
Self-employment enables me to achieve the work-life balance I want. Here's why I love the flexibility—and how you can get the same flexibility in your own life.
From Homeschooling to College
After my TEDx talk, several people asked me about my experience being homeschooling. What did I think about getting into college as a homeschooled student? Here's my reply.
What I Wore as a TEDx Speaker
I wanted to strike a balance between 'professional' and 'weird homeschooler', on brand for me, not too casual, with some color, and good for nursing my 9-month-old.
Coercive Schooling is Pervasive
When giving a TEDx talk, I was stuck by how inundated one organizer was in the coercive schooling system. Here are some examples—and how we can change minds about learning.
How I Prepared For My First TEDx Talk
How do you give a TEDx talk? Here's how I picked a topic I was passionate about, wrote the speech, refined it, practiced, and memorized it.
Kids Can't Be Taught, But They Love to Learn
I gave my first TEDx talk this year. It was the first time I'd been on a stage in quite some time. I'd spent hours memorizing my talk... would it go well?
Discovering the Traditional Catholic Mass
How I discovered the traditional Latin Mass a few years ago, why that discovery changed everything for me, and what was wrong with the Novus Ordo Masses I'd attended.
A Blog About Education, Lifestyles, and Community
A brief history of how the Deliberate Owl came to be and why we're writing a blog about us, our lives, and how we're living out our values.