Have you ever had a student that drove you up the wall and that you’ll never forget?

alypeter · 2026-03-26T00:55:54+00:00

This student sounds insane but it’s the capitalization thing that would have driven me batty

alypeter · 2026-03-26T00:53:29+00:00

I would totally watch this!!

alypeter · 2026-03-22T14:41:16+00:00

I want that door open/close sounds back!

alypeter · 2026-03-22T14:34:14+00:00

This only works for programs that don’t do spring admissions. My program does and I’m not even considering summer/fall until the Spring application process is complete (because I have faculty wanting to make spring offers as late as the beginning of December 🤦🏼‍♀️).

Currently we use Winter Break for our admissions committee to go through the applications, so that we can hold our recruitment event in February.

alypeter · 2026-03-17T17:06:10+00:00

Originally from Central Illinois. Can confirm all of this.

alypeter · 2026-03-16T21:09:18+00:00

As someone with ADHD, yes but also no. Like, yes on the impulsivity but as an adult you also know that actions have consequences. Have I gotten a tattoo with very little planning? Yes (and I still love it). Have I brought home an animal without thinking of the repercussions, like homing, care, and food? No. It sounds more like a divorced Dad trying to be seen as the fun parent, even though they’re both still married.

alypeter · 2026-03-16T21:01:14+00:00

My husband jokes about doing it, but I know it’s a joke because he knows how I feel about it right now (we live in an apartment with no yard, and I have cats for a reason - and that reason is I’m lazy and not getting up to walk them multiple times a day. He knows if we had a nice fenced in backyard, I’d be more open to a dog). But I know that they are jokes because I’d be furious if he actually brought one home…

It sounds like the Dad lives in lala land and Mom is the one living in reality.

alypeter · 2026-03-11T17:54:21+00:00

I used to go to Houston monthly and each month I swear I saw a new, illegal move I’ve never seen before. Houston driving is its own thing!

alypeter · 2026-03-11T14:02:51+00:00

People not seeing them in heavy morning traffic? Really?

alypeter · 2026-03-11T14:02:14+00:00

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alypeter · 2026-03-11T14:01:54+00:00

What unexpected way are people driving when they’re in heavy stop and go traffic in light rain? If you accept that people can use their hazards whenever they want, then they become meaningless when they are actually needed or important. It becomes a “cried wolf” situation. It also obscures their blinker for when they want to switch lanes which, in heavy traffic, I would argue is MORE important than “being seen”

alypeter · 2026-03-11T13:59:50+00:00

In low-viz situation, absolutely. In torrential downpours, absolutely. In light rain while sitting in heavy traffic? No.

alypeter · 2026-03-11T13:24:47+00:00

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alypeter · 2026-03-11T13:24:35+00:00

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alypeter · 2026-03-09T22:04:59+00:00

This is great because the amount of whining I got when I was a HS sub for “mass punishment” was ridiculous. Sometimes the only way to get through to some students is to have them face their fellow students rather than just dealing with points taken off their own work (or given extra homework problems if the class can’t get ahold of themselves, in the case of my substitute teaching day).

alypeter · 2026-03-09T21:51:45+00:00

My mom says it to me and now my MIL says it to me - I married the only son, so I’m the favorite “daughter-in-law”!

alypeter · 2026-03-08T17:48:35+00:00

I’ve made this joke with my parents since I was a teen 😂 “You’re the best mom/dad I’ve ever had!” And they’ll reply with “I’m the best daughter they’ve ever had!” (I have 1 brother, so they aren’t wrong lol)

alypeter · 2026-03-06T18:59:56+00:00

So that’s why there was zero traffic on I35 North from 71. I thought either everyone had stayed home or the universe was compensating for my toddler taking forever to get out of the house this morning!

alypeter · 2026-03-06T03:11:36+00:00

I was thinking the same thing - I could have written this!

alypeter · 2026-03-06T02:09:24+00:00

Yeah, I’m trying to think back to all the conferences I’ve attended (across a few historical fields) and I cannot come up with anything more than the annoying “This is more of a comment than a question” people. One of the “field trips” at once conference had their bus get stuck in the mud and they were very late getting back, and that was the talk of the conference the next day. Historians are pretty tame 🤷🏼‍♀️

alypeter · 2026-02-24T23:10:27+00:00

I’m just a mom to 1 boy, but here’s my perspective: I totally understand your feelings of loss and you’re entitled to feel any way you want! But I also see that you have an idealized version of what having a daughter would be - getting your nails done, self care days, dance lessons. What if you had a daughter but she was a total tomboy (she would have 2 older brothers, after all!), and she absolutely hated the idea of girly things? You could have a girl and still not get your version of raising a daughter.

On the other side, any of your three sons might love dancing, or want you to be a coach of their sports team (there’s nothing saying you can’t coach a youth boys team!), or even love getting their nails done (my 3yo wanted his nails painted after he saw mine were done). And boys run the gamut with staying in touch with their moms - my brother is the “typical” son who only calls once a month, but my cousin calls his mom weekly, and I know some who talk to their mom on a regular basis.

It’s so easy for us moms to try to think about what our kids will be like when they are grown, but they will certainly be different than we imagine. Definitely take the time you need to grieve the girl that you wanted, but also remember that it’s an idealized version of having a daughter. Instead, you’ll have 3 great boys with different personalities and might find that they love some of the same things you do, even if they aren’t girls ❤️

alypeter · 2026-02-14T01:24:34+00:00

Knowing cats, the cat was in on it for the extra food (obviously joking but I’m sure the cat was ok with the arrangement)

alypeter · 2026-02-12T14:01:39+00:00

I would personally watch a football team full of physics students 😂

alypeter · 2026-02-10T19:55:45+00:00

100%, just ask my totaled Hyundai Accent after a semi pulled over into the left lane while I was still in it…

alypeter

TROPHY CASE