Welcome to Tall Teacher Mama!
My name is Jackie, and I am so glad you are here.
I am a child of God, a wife, and a mom to five wonderful children. When I’m not teaching, you might find me curled up with a good book, sewing, crocheting, or enjoying the peacefulness of country living with my family.
This little corner of the internet is where I will share glimpses into my daily life. Maybe you will learn a new recipe or get inspired to do something crafty, but even if you don’t, it’s a good thing you’re here, so I’m not just talking to myself. 😀
In the Beginning…
One day I was all warm and snug, and the next thing I knew I was thrust into the world where everything was noisy and bright. There were a lot of strange people to meet and new things to experience. Someone put a shirt and diaper on me, and then they stuck me in a little cart. They even covered my hands. What was up with that?
Wait.
Did I go back too far?
Is my “about me” page not supposed to cover my entire life’s story?
No? Hmm…
Let’s try this again.
My Story
When I was growing up, I always knew I wanted to be a mom and a teacher. While attending college, I met my husband, and we have raised five children in my childhood home. Our children are now in their teens and twenties, but most days I can’t even fathom that I am on this side of parenting instead of being a mom of littles.
For the first six years after graduating with my teaching degree, I was an elementary teacher. When I had my second child, I became a stay-at-home mama.
Over the next fifteen years, I gave birth to three more children, and I had several at home jobs such as an embroidery business and a web design business. During those years, I started a blog called Blessings Overflowing (I no longer own this url. I let it lapse, and I think someone else purchased the domain.).
When my oldest child started college, and my youngest child was in first grade, I went back to the classroom. This time around I am teaching 7th and 8th grade language arts at my alma mater.
I love being a teacher even though not every day with the 12-14 crowd is easy. I will admit that there is nothing quite as humbling as standing in front of twenty-five young teenagers, but I love it!
After the first year or two of working outside the home again, I gave up my blog. At the time it was the right choice, but I have grown to miss sharing my thoughts and ideas with others. Thus, Tall Teacher Mama was born.
Why Tall Teacher Mama?
By now you know that I am a mom and a teacher, but you may be wondering why the word tall is in the title.
There is a question that I have been asked countless times in my life, and I still get asked this question multiple times a year.
“How tall are you?”
Now, when I was a gangly teenager, this question always brought attention to something I was self-conscious about: my height. For goodness sakes, a thirteen year old who grew six inches in a year and had naturally curly hair had enough to worry about without people pointing out her height.
However, I have since learned to be comfortable with people pointing out the fact that I am tall.
I guess I better answer the question after all of this build-up. I am 6’1″ barefoot with wet hair, which means I am closer to 6’2″ most of the time. 🙂
What to Expect at Tall Teacher Mama
Now that you know why I chose the name Tall Teacher Mama you may be wondering what I will be sharing in my little corner of the blogosphere.
- Practical, family-friendly recipes that fit a busy life, including gluten-free and dairy-free options
- DIY sewing and crochet projects to spark creativity
- Reflections on teaching and parenting with honesty and a little humor thrown in for good measure
- Stories of my faith that will hopefully provide encouragement
- Whatever else happens to pop into my head that I feel the need to share
I invite you to join me on this journey. I hope you find encouragement and connection here. Feel free to reach out to share your story or ask a question. I hope we can inspire and encourage one another.
Blessings,
Jackie