Author: Stefanie Elwood
Article(s) by
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Mother, Daughter, and the monster
Mary Wollstonecraft was a trail blazer in life and literature. She is most famous for A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792). Her legacy is marked by the passionate belief that women should receive a full academic education, just like men. She also opposed social and economic double standards. Her work influenced an era…
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My Mother Was an Artist
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Is There a Hotseat in Your Class?
Many years ago, when a new student joined my English class after the school year began, she responded to a question with “I don’t know.” Some kids quietly groaned or rolled their eyes. A couple leaned over and whispered, “That’s not allowed in this class.” That surprised me because I never told them not to…
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The Big Lie of DEI
DEI stands for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Diversity is normal life for most of us. Inclusion makes that nice. Equity, however, is a problem. In fact, the first time I was exposed to this baseball game analogy, I used it to teach faulty logic in a college literary analysis class, certainly not the textbook authors’…
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The Little Farm Girl
Arnold Knodel, my dad, grew up on a North Dakota farm back when tractors were replacing horses. My grandfather made the switch before I was born. Farming was probably easier, but I bet it was sad not to have horses anymore. My parents were working their own farm when my brother and I were…
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Toddler Trouble in Arizona
A few weeks ago, I went to a Mexican Restaurant in Wickenburg, AZ, with some family and friends. The food was delicious, the service excellent, and we were having a great time catching up. Nonetheless, because there were quite a few of us and because of the outrageous cost of everything these days, dinner was…
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Need More Self-control?
Wouldn’t it be nice if we liked celery more than sweets? How about if we preferred doing chores and homework to playing video games, cornhole or pickleball? When it comes to willpower, some of us struggle more than others. So what can be done? According to “What You Need to Know about Willpower: The…
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Oh, Those Tantrums!
Have you ever seen a frazzled mom count menacingly at her child to make him stop misbehaving? I think we all have. I get the concept. I used to count, too. My son always straightened up by two. One day, he asked what happens on three? This savvy little boy was gearing up to test…
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Stop Focusing on the Mirror
Someone dear to me is struggling with emotional problems, self-esteem issues, and past trauma. “Annie” posted a meme on FB of a gorgeous woman in a slinky, dark green evening gown. She stands beside this caption: “In the Era of loving myself more.” Then, Annie added, “It’s not easy, but I’m doing it.” Dear Annie…
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Gift Giving Quandary
Oh, to be young again. Not for fewer wrinkles or greater agility—although that might be nice. But no. It would be great to go back to the years when we actually wanted something for Christmas. My family gave up exchanging gifts amongst the parents and grandparents when the only thing anyone ever really needed or…