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 17 years and have two beautiful girls, Emma Jane (12) and Hannah (7), and 5 year-old pup named Ember. Kelly is a lover of all things nerdy, a proud fangirl, and she is a passionate high school English teacher.
There’s a New Dine-Gnar in Town! :: My Review of Gnarley Barley’s New Restaurant
There's a New Dine-Gnar in Town!
My husband has long been a fan of microbreweries and taprooms. We make it a point to find local taprooms any time we travel, and he’s collected so many...
Race to the Greyhound :: Covington’s Gourmet Gastropub
A few weeks ago, I wasn’t in the mood to cook, so my husband figured it was a great opportunity to go to a new restaurant. We had passed by the Greyhound a few...
A Letter to My Students at the End of a Challenging Year
Dear Students,
Our year together is coming to a close, and it is such a bittersweet ending.
One on hand, I am glad the year is finally coming to an end. This year ranks among one...
Support Local Bookstores on Independent Bookstore Day
When I was in college, I loved going to Maple Street Bookstore. Even though Tulane had an on-campus bookstore, there was something much more comforting about perusing the shelves in a converted shotgun while...
Mom’s Time Isn’t Her Own
If you are a mom, you are more than likely familiar with the idea of moms being the default parent and bearing the brunt of the “mental load.”
These concepts simultaneously make me feel seen...
The GK I Knew :: On the Closure of Grace King High School
Last week, Jefferson Parish School Board voted to consolidate and close a number of schools in response to the national teacher shortage and reduced student enrollment at the local level. The next morning, several...
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...