Heather is an essayist, editor, CMO, mommy, and wife seeking stillness while in a state
of nearly constant motion. She lives, walks, and eats in the greatest city in the world: Chicago.
Reflecting on the messy, imperfect ritual of family dinners and their parallels to democracy. Amid spilled milk and laughter, we find connection and resilience, even in tough times. Just as we return to the dinner table, we keep showing up for each other, finding hope in the shared work of moving forward together.
Read MoreJudy Blume's novels and the likes of "To Kill a Mockingbird" shaped my world. These stories, now often challenged, underscore the ongoing fight for the freedom to read and grow.
Read MoreIn a world quick to judge and quicker to comment, I learned the hard way about the power of pause. Sometimes, silence is the most fashionable statement we can make.
Read MoreMy dad was a great storyteller. Even though he was a little shy with strangers, he loved to spin a good yarn from time to time with his family. His best tales were stories about Chicago. But my favorite story was how he came into his chili recipe.
Read MoreThat’s the thing about hate.
It starts off innocently enough, the tiniest sapling. You think you can ignore it, so you do. It doesn’t seem so dangerous, really. Maybe it’s not your problem. Someone else will take care of it. Then suddenly, there’s no light. And there’s no sign of what grew there before. The roots now run deep. It will take some sweat to claim back our garden.
Read MoreI checked in everywhere. I posted witty updates and tag friends and places. I quoted insightful articles. I was in the maelstrom of social media, and I reveled in the connectivity, the community of it all. I loved it.
Until I didn’t.
Read MoreTeachers dedicate their lives to our children. Because it’s what they do, what they have always done. But now we literally expect them to lay down their lives for our children. We are asking too much.
Read MoreWe all want to be liked, even powerful, strong people have that basic human need for approval at some level. But not everyone has public polling numbers following them around to remind them of their ‘failure’ in this regard.
Read MoreI didn’t want to write about this, today or any day.
Read More