Revelry Reverie

Note: I first posted this internally at work. I shared a draft with my husband who encouraged me to post it publicly. Empathetic leadership is often framed as a personality trait. You either have it or you don’t. You’re warm or you’re direct. You lead with care or you lead with clarity. That framing has…

Today marks thirteen years since I was hired at Automattic. I’m always in a reflective mood this time of year, so I’ve been reflecting on what these thirteen years have brought me. I’ve been able to be a good mom. Grant used to toss out, “you’re the best mom ever!” And I would tell him,…

Grant and I share an enthusiasm for the work of Oliver Jeffers. While I don’t think we have all his children’s books, we have a pretty substantial stack (including at least one missing one which is illustrated by him, The Day the Crayons Quit. Fittingly, the book seems to have quit our house. And another…

Some time back, on some flight or another, we had to route around a big storm. I took some photos.

I was reading this Open Questions (by Joshua Rothman) post about whether the phrase “six seven” is brainrot or not. My kids have used this phrase; the twins for a short while, and Grant for longer. The older kids seem to be mostly over it (and since they don’t have any social media, they may…

Henry and Eleanor turned 14 this past Saturday. It was lovely, and they said it was the best birthday yet. Eleanor did specify “top 14!” I’m glad they’re growing up, and proud of them and the people they’re becoming, but fourteen is really real. They’re really going to be driving soon, and moving out soon,…

Oh my god, I am so over being sick. For more than a week I’ve been sick with what’s turned out to be a sinus infection. It’s been the worst. I finally went to the doctor and she gave me antibiotics. She also said, “I was trying to remember the last time you came in…

Bob and I took a mini-trip to Manhattan this week, because I was speaking on a panel for Cornell Tech and All Tech is Human on Wednesday, and then lecturing the class Trust & Safety: Platforms, Policies, Products, also at Cornell Tech. This was a fantastic, awe-inspiring trip! On Tuesday we saw Moulin Rouge! and…

I was invited to a little girl’s birthday party this week, so I knew it was important to get the gift right. She’s a real pistol, who is social and filled to the brim with sass. So I got her a box of rocks and a shovel. Back in early summer, she saw Bob doing…

Every year we go to Wasaga Beach in Ontario, and it’s my favorite vacation. I sit outside, read books, and don’t worry about the kids drowning (it’s very shallow and they’re all very good swimmers). This year I read 8 books, and we were there 8 days. So I feel good about that — I…