Alyson Haggerty
Alyson lives in Metairie with her husband, Patrick, their 8 and 5-year-old boys, and their Morkie, Beignet. After teaching for almost ten years, she left a career in education and is now a full-time nursing student. In her hypothetical free time, Alyson would enjoy flipping furniture, writing, dancing, and painting. She is always looking for a racquetball partner and loves streetcar rides and playing board games with her family. A good cook, she is constantly on a quest to answer the age-old question, “What’s for dinner?” but has thus far been unsuccessful.
The Teachers Are Mourning
My kids were supposed to start school August 6. Then, the start date got moved to August 12. And postponed yet again to August 31. They finally started, but a short time later was...
Making the Grade: A New Perspective for My Kids
At 33 years old, I am one semester away from graduating nursing school. Before this, I was a teacher. So, I've known for years that grades are next to meaningless, yet I didn't truly...
We Tested Positive: A Guide to Quarantine Prep
Back in March, my husband, an ICU nurse, tested positive. Though we were completely caught off guard, we managed well (with the help of our village, of course). Now, as our kids prepare to...
Dear Moms, You Know What the Right Decision about School Is
If you’re anything like me, you’re probably feeling overwhelmed, pressured to make the right decision about sending your child back to school. Your social media has been flooded with opinions, even arguments, about the...
Why I Play Pokémon GO With My Kids (and Maybe You Should, Too)
Two years ago, after talking to friends at school, my now 7-year-old asked us to download Pokémon GO onto the old iPad we gave him to occasionally play games. I didn't know much about...
A Little Bit of Normalcy Knocked Me Out
We've been in quarantine for a little over 3 months. When the quarantine began, our lives came to a screeching halt. We were forced to give up the daily grind to which we were...
On Racism :: I Know Now
What I Did
When I was 6 years old, I heard the n-word for the first time. I was in the Taco Bell bathroom when I overheard a disgruntled customer complaining about an employee. I...
When Your Husband Doesn’t Do a Good Job Celebrating Holidays
When discussing Mother's Day recently, my friends and I talked about the pressure we sometimes feel surrounding holidays. One friend remarked that scrolling through social media and seeing the fun gifts and sweet gestures...
Teacher. Mom. Nurse. Thanks for Doing It All.
I was a teacher first. Then I became a mom. And now, I'm a student in nursing school. During this special week dedicated to teachers, mothers, and nurses, I've been reflecting on the many...
It’s Okay to Be Selfish During Quarantine
The quarantine has given me ample opportunity to connect with more friends, and I love it. However, I've been noticing a trend in the conversations I've been having. We discuss the different ways in...
Unpopular Opinion: No Need to Replace Actual Life with Virtual Reality
We are three weeks into this COVID-19 quarantine. When the quarantine went into effect, the uncertainty and tension was palpable, even from a social distance. I understand that; it's hard to accept such a...
My Husband Tested Positive for COVID-19
My husband, a nurse in a New Orleans ICU, became symptomatic 5 days ago. He was tested almost immediately, and today we got the results. His test was positive. While he had been experiencing...
Life Lessons from Netflix’s Tiger King
Meth, murder, cults, plural marriage, AND large cats? It just seems too crazy to be true. Like what are the chances all that could happen in one show? Yet, here we are. If you...
What to Watch: Shows for the Whole Family
A mom can only handle so much Paw Patrol and Pokémon, amirite? I hate banishing my kids to the playroom TV when they want to watch something that I don't. Thankfully, now that they're...