Brenda Mahler
Stories about life that inspire emotions - mostly humor.
Lessons about writing based on my textbook, Strategies for Teaching Writing.
Poetry and essays about the of art of being human.
I write therefore, I am.
Finding My Voice to Satisfy My Passions
As a youth I would lay sprawled on my bed writing my thoughts. I collected inspiration in a spiral notebook, copied poems from books, ripped inspirational quotes from magazines, and pilfered clever sayings from friends. Notes passed between classes, cut out handwritten comments from birthday cards, and highlighted phrases that made me smile were glued onto those same lined pages.
Brenda MahlerPublished 23 days ago in Motivation
Our Family Fairytale of Unconditional Love
When our children were young, our nightly ritual concluded with the sharing of a story just before they crawled into bed.
Brenda MahlerPublished about a month ago in Families
Listen to Words that are Seldom Spoken
As she walks by locker 623, she notices the door is hanging open. With the palm of her hand, she reaches out to push it shut and continues walking. Metal hits metal causing the door to swing back open without the familiar click that acknowledges it has latched. Upon closer inspection and a slight jiggle, a folded slip of paper falls to the floor, a simple system that allows for easy access without a combination. To the untrained eye, it is just a piece of paper; to high school students, it's a shortcut, a quick and easy access; to her eye, an administrator, it's an invitation to theft, vandalism, and bullying.
Brenda MahlerPublished about a month ago in Fiction
Proof You Can Accomplish Your Dream
Eight years ago, I started writing a book. This week it was published. Lockers Speak occurs as the students exit the school to begin summer break. They leave behind the lockers who personify their thoughts and emotions. As an administrator walks the empty halls, she reflects on the events of the school year. The voices whispering, sometimes screaming from the lockers share stories of friendship, academic struggles, death, abuse, celebrations, and basic human experiences.
Brenda MahlerPublished about a month ago in FictionPoetry Provides a Snapshot in Time
Two poems from a book, Lockers Speak, released this week. Carolyn Anderson Momma told me the red mark on my face is a symbol of God’s love
Brenda MahlerPublished about a month ago in Poets
When a Loved One has a Stroke, Everyone Hurts
Scanning through Facebook last week, I stopped abruptly on a post. A friend had suffered a stroke. My heart broke, and I was transported back to a time four years earlier when life revolved around hospitals and recovery. During that year, both my dad and daughter suffered severe strokes that changed their lives. On Thanksgiving, we had a lot to be thankful for as we gather together.
Brenda MahlerPublished 2 months ago in Motivation
Success in Life Requires Learning to Take One Step at a Time
When my daughter was 18 months old, I drafted a short poem while watching her experiment with walking. Fascinated by her unstable, unplanned movements, she pushed the limits of what she could accomplish and explored. Realizing I held my breath anticipating a misstep, she giggled while playing a game for which there existed no winner or loser. Each time she fell, she righted herself, smiled and extended her wobbly legs forth for more adventure.
Brenda MahlerPublished 2 months ago in MotivationTeach Responsibility
Anyone who has raised children knows homework challenges parents as much as students. I remember a time when Kari, our oldest daughter, shared excitement for a homework project -planning, and talking for days about the design for a school poster assignment. I remember thinking, “How wonderful, she is putting so much thought into this assignment” and offered encouragement for each new idea.
Brenda MahlerPublished 2 months ago in Families
