Kelly Vollmer
Kelly first moved to New Orleans to attend Tulane University, from which she earned a B.S. in Psychology and English and an M.A. in English. She quickly discovered New Orleans was the place where she had always belonged and her high school sweetheart, Jeff, soon followed her here. They have now been married for 14 year and have two beautiful girls, Emma Jane (9) and Hannah (5), and 2 year-old pup named Ember. Kelly is a lover of all things nerdy and a proud fangirl, and she is a passionate high school English teacher.
Why My Kid Probably Won’t Come to Your Kid’s Party
Dear Fellow Parent,
Thank you so much for inviting my child to your child’s birthday party. Unfortunately, we are unlikely to attend. In fact, if my kid hasn’t regularly mentioned your kid, we’re definitely not...
Yes, We Still Like Each Other
On Valentine’s Day, my husband had a bouquet of flowers sent to my work. At lunch, I happily told some of my coworkers about it and gushed a little bit about my husband. In...
Recognition Makes a Difference
There is a scene from The Incredibles that has always stuck with me.
Dash, whose superpower is extreme speed, wants to try out for track, but his mom won’t let him because she says it...
Possibly Unpopular Opinion :: In Favor of School Closures for Weather
Monday, January 2nd was my kids’ first day back to school after the holidays. I work in a different district and was looking forward to a few days at home by myself before I...
Setting Personal Boundaries
Over the past few years, there has been a huge cultural shift toward accepting and recognizing mental health needs. This shift has been accompanied by a focus on prioritizing self-care and establishing clear boundaries....
What Comes Out in the Wash
On Sunday, I opened my dryer up and started to pull out the warm, freshly cleaned clothes, but as I did so, I noticed specks of color. A closer inspection of one of the...
7 Christmas Traditions I Wish I’d Adopted Before I Had Kids
When I was growing up, Christmas was always a pretty big deal in my house. I always looked forward to the holiday season because it involved gathering with both sides of my large extended...
Let’s Celebrate “Drive Parents Crazy” Week!
A few weeks ago, my school celebrated Homecoming Week. In addition to the actual homecoming game, the week included daily dress-up themes, a door-decorating contest, a pep rally, a community parade, and a Homecoming...
Encourage Excellence, but Don’t Expect It
It’s the end of the first quarter, and per usual, many students are suddenly very worried about their grades. I’ve conferenced with students about why their grades are what they are, and I’ve reminded...
Gumbo and What?
A few weeks ago, Fox 8 posted a question on social media:
“Does potato salad go in the gumbo or on the side?”
Now, I’m not a local, but I first moved to the area nearly...
They Put a Spell on Us
A year or so ago, when I found out that Hocus Pocus 2 was really happening, after years of rumors, I was beyond excited. I had visions of a big watch party with tons...
Who’s in Control Here? Holding Kids Accountable and Letting Them Fail
The start of this school year has been ROUGH. As a teacher, I’ve never felt stretched so thin, and as a mother whose youngest started kindergarten, I’m struggling to balance three school schedules, activities,...
Emotional Validation is as Important a Self-Care
A couple of weeks ago, I snapped at my daughter. I was watching a television show while folding laundry, and I had to pause my show no less than 3 times in a ten-minute...
10 Quick and Easy Meals for Busy School Nights
Anyone who knows me knows that I absolutely HATE cooking and meal planning. It is the bane of my existence and the last thing I want to do after a long day at work....