The Heart of Teaching

Make Room for Play

How do you define play? Does it require a court, a fairway, or a field to count? What if your playground is your kitchen...your sewing room...or your garage workshop? A morning spent making pepper jelly with friends reminded me how important playing together is. As we age, our playgrounds change, but our need for fun never ends.  In this week's Cuppa Joy, I reflect on the revival of traditional home-and-hearth skills, the joy of learning something new, and why making room for creativity might be one of the best gifts we can give ourselves. Whether your version of play is cooking, gardening, quilting, writing, woodworking, or simply trying something new, this episode is an invitation to rediscover the delight of playing, especially together with friends. Send me a note. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568948/fan_mail/new] If something in today’s Cuppa stirred a thought or a memory, sparked a question, or simply made you want to reach out, I’d love to hear from you. Click on "send me a note" or email me directly at robyn@delongteam.com

Our Enduring Promise

What do a 250-year-old nation, a worn Thanksgiving tablecloth, and a neighborhood Fourth of July celebration have in common? More than I realized. Sometimes the most ordinary things remind us of the promises we inherit—and the ones we choose to pass along. As America celebrates 250 years of independence, I found myself looking at an old Bicentennial tablecloth my mother bought in 1976. What began as a search for its history became a reflection on family traditions, the birth of a nation, and the enduring promises that carry us through times of change. This week's Cuppa Joy is about what we inherit, what we contribute, and the hope, freedom, and community we pass along to those who come after us. Send me a note. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568948/fan_mail/new] If something in today’s Cuppa stirred a thought or a memory, sparked a question, or simply made you want to reach out, I’d love to hear from you. Click on "send me a note" or email me directly at robyn@delongteam.com

More Than Just Memories

What stories do you hope your children or grandchildren will remember long after you're gone? A reunion with old friends, a conversation with my son, and memories of my mother and grandparents reminded me that stories are more than memories. They carry our values, our faith, our resilience, and our love. A late-night conversation with lifelong friends led me to reflect on the stories that have shaped my family across generations—from my grandparents' Depression-era lessons to my mother's unwavering faith. The wisdom, values, and love embedded within these memories continue to guide the people left behind. This week's Cuppa Joy explores what survives us—and the legacy hidden within the stories we share. Send me a note. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568948/fan_mail/new] If something in today’s Cuppa stirred a thought or a memory, sparked a question, or simply made you want to reach out, I’d love to hear from you. Click on "send me a note" or email me directly at robyn@delongteam.com

No Instruction Model

What if someone had shown your sixteen-year-old self a photograph from your future and everything in it seemed impossible? Father's Day can stir up a wide range of emotions. In this week's Cuppa Joy, I reflect on how babies arrive with no instruction manual, on the parenting lessons we inherit—be they good or bad, and the wisdom that age can bring. It's also the story of an unexpected family reunion including my mother and father more than forty years after their divorce—and a reminder that healing sometimes arrives long after we've stopped expecting it. Send me a note. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568948/fan_mail/new] If something in today’s Cuppa stirred a thought or a memory, sparked a question, or simply made you want to reach out, I’d love to hear from you. Click on "send me a note" or email me directly at robyn@delongteam.com

Lessons in Kindness

Why do stories of kindness touch us so deeply? And what happens when children are invited to put those lessons into action? This week I'm sharing the story behind Steve Hartman's Kindness 101 project and the unexpected ripple effect it has created in classrooms across America. Along the way, I found myself reflecting on the power of stories—not just the ones we hear, but the ones we tell ourselves. Join me for a conversation about kindness, storytelling, and the goodness that often goes unnoticed. Send me a note. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568948/fan_mail/new] If something in today’s Cuppa stirred a thought or a memory, sparked a question, or simply made you want to reach out, I’d love to hear from you. Click on "send me a note" or email me directly at robyn@delongteam.com