Category Archives: Sari Swinging

Pulleys and infant insomnia

Posted on January 24, 2018 by katiequirkauthor

I’m working on two books at the moment: Kurinji, a young-adult novel set at a boarding school in the mountains of South India; and Sari Swinging: One Mom Opts out of the American Work-Family Grind, a parenting memoir about raising … Continue reading →

Posted in Sari Swinging | Tagged Building a Baby Sleep Machine in India, colic, cry it out, pulleys, Sleep machine, sleep training, The New York Times, Well Family | 2 Comments

Reporting from Nicaragua

Posted on January 8, 2018 by katiequirkauthor

A year ago, my family and I were in Granada, Nicaragua, riding on chicken buses, swimming in geothermally-warmed waters, peeking into a caldera flowing with molten lava, and generally enjoying la vida nicaragüense. As we settle into the latter part … Continue reading →

Posted in Sari Swinging | Tagged Apoyo, chicken bus, Family gap year, family sabbatical, Granada, Masaya, Nicaragua, The Los Angeles Times, travel with children | Leave a comment

Character Transformation and Writing

Posted on October 3, 2017 by katiequirkauthor

Last week I wrote about “windows” and “mirrors” in creative writing, and how travel–or really any experience with difference, even in own neighborhood–can challenge our expectations about the world and provide great fuel for writing. This week I want to … Continue reading →

Posted in Sari Swinging | Tagged character transformation, Climate Change, Costa Rica, Monteverde, Slate, windows and mirrors, writing craft | Leave a comment

Writing and Travel

Posted on September 26, 2017 by katiequirkauthor

Folks talk about creative writing providing windows and mirrors: stories that allow us to feel and experience another’s context or perspective (windows) and tales that help us better understand ourselves (mirrors). I tend to gravitate toward writing that offers me … Continue reading →

Posted in Sari Swinging | Tagged Behind the Beautiful Forevers, Euphoria, Navigating Early, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, To Capture What We Cannot Keep, travel writing craft, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, windows and mirrors | Leave a comment

Universal Preschool Access

Posted on December 10, 2014 by katiequirkauthor

In both his 2013 and 2014 State of the Union addresses, President Obama called for universal preschool access. His focus on early childhood education and care comes in response to a national emergency: the United States ranks 28th internationally in … Continue reading →

Posted in Sari Swinging | Tagged daycare, Early Childhood Education, Early Learning, Invest in Us, Pre-k, Preschool for All, President Obama, Universal Preschool | 1 Comment

Obama’s Summit on Working Families

Posted on June 23, 2014 by katiequirkauthor

Today, President Obama is holding a summit to encourage employers to adopt family-friendly policies. This discussion is long overdue. As Obama pointed out in his weekly address: “Only three countries in the world report that they don’t offer paid maternity … Continue reading →

Posted in Sari Swinging | Tagged family-friendly policies, India, Obama, Sari Swinging, Summit on working families, Sweden, working moms | Leave a comment

“My Writing Process” Blog Tour

Posted on May 22, 2014 by katiequirkauthor

When I meet with teachers or other grown-up readers, I often get the question, “So, how do you do it?” Many of these folks have stories in mind that they’d like to get down on paper. They’re curious about everything … Continue reading →

Posted in Sari Swinging | Tagged Anna Vodicka, Ellen Booraem, India, Lean In, Maria Padian, Megan Frazer Blakemore, My Writing Process Blog Tour, Perfect Madness, Wonder Women | 2 Comments