now posting regularly

Over three years ago, I was so struck by an NPR story I heard one morning that I felt compelled to share it here on the blog. After thinking on it for a few days, my favorite weekly feature now posting regularly was born. Over 93 posts, I've shared NPR stories that have moved me, bringing out tears, laughter and more than one instance of irrational loud arguing with my kitchen radio.

One of the best perks of being home with the kids for the last four years has been my ability to stay informed via NPR, even when I can only catch snippets of pieces over the usual cacophony of our family soundtrack. With my return to the world of the full-time employed coming in less than two weeks, I'm preparing myself for the loss of my usual NPR morning and early afternoon programming. Sure, I'll be able to catch a story here and there, or listen online when I get a free moment, but for the most part, I'll be saying goodbye to my favorites Morning Edition, The Diane Rehm Show, The Kojo Nnamdi Show, and All Things Considered.

I don't know if now posting regularly will continue on in diminished capacity or not, but if this is going to be one of its last appearances, I'm ready to go out with a bang. Talk about a busy NPR week! I hope you find something here to connect with, as I have enjoyed these stories.

• "On Location: Mansfield, Ohio's 'Shawshank' Industry"-- This All Things Considered story caught my ear because I, like many others, was quite moved by the movie The Shawshank Redemption. But really, you've got to read/listen to this story for the postscript-- sad note to end the story on, with really coincidental timing.

• "A Love Story That Started With A Song" -- It seems only appropriate to feature another Story Corps piece from Morning Edition again, and this one certainly made me smile. This continues to be an incredible project that gets to me again and again.

• "In Bolivia, Strollers Compete With Baby Slings"-- Here's an interesting All Things Considered piece about the different ways moms carry babies across cultures.

• "'Stand By Me': A Love Letter To Childhood Innocence"-- Another All Things Considered one for you, and this time it's about a movie that I was kind of obsessed with as a kid. Looking back, I'm a bit surprised that I was allowed to watch this movie again and again at the tender age of 12, but I remember sobbing from feeling overwhelmed with emotion each time I watched it on VHS. 

• "Big, Fat Stereotypes Play Out On The Small Screen" -- LOVED this Morning Edition story the other morning, and I was sad that JAM wasn't around to hear it, too, for we were just having a conversation about this very phenomenon now that he's watching a few "tween" types of shows.

• "Parental Leave: The Swedes Are The Most Generous" -- I've really been enjoying this summer's The Baby Project on NPR, and this feature from All Things Considered blew my mind and made me convinced that I should have been born in Sweden. 480 days. Seriously.

• "The Challenges Of Child Care: Emotional Decisions And A Constant Juggling Act"-- I'm honored to say that a fellow DC Mom, Stacy Ferguson, took part in this round-table discussion on All Things Considered this week. Thoughtful discussion about parental needs for child care, always a topic of interest for parents!

There you have it, my love for and obsession with NPR, in bullet-point form.


Enjoying it while I can,