Nicole Torres
Hello! I am a full-time teacher and mama. I spend half my week trying to get Big Kids to listen, engage, discover, and put down their phones. Then I spend the other half trying to get my kindergarten son and toddler daughter to listen, engage, discover, and put down MY phone. In real life, I'm an educator and a mother. In my head, I'm a writer, a social activist, a film critic, a home-cook extraordinaire, a brunch-spot reviewer, and a professional TV-Watcher. Thank you for letting me share my world with you!
Our First Day of School: All We Really Need to Know
“All I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but...
10 Ice Cream Experiences To Have In + Around Detroit
I don’t know if such a thing as an “ice cream rut” is even possible, but if you’ve found that you’ve already exhausted all 31 possibilities at Baskin Robbins, maybe it’s time to vary...
A Guide to Day Trips In + Around Detroit
“Got a good reason for taking the easy way out…”
John Lennon was {probably} not talking to parents of small children, but he is definitely on to something here. While family vacations are amazing, they’re...
An Open Letter of Gratitude to My Big Sister on Mother’s Day
To My Big Sister:
You know this story as well as I do: When the nurse came into the delivery room after I was born, she asked, “How many mothers does this child have?!” She...
A Penguin Peek: A Look Inside Polk Penguin Conservation Center
Click here for some tips and planning info before your first trip to the Polk Penguin Conservation Center.
While the early onset of spring-like weather in Metro Detroit had many wistfully wishing warm thoughts of...
Tips for the Polk Penguin Conservation Center at The Detroit Zoo
The countdown is on to the opening of the Polk Penguin Conservation Center at the Detroit Zoo! Here is some information you might find useful in planning your first visit:
The PPCC opens to the public...
Homeroom Thoughts: Supporting Your Child’s Education
Recently, a neighbor of mine asked a simple question on our neighborhood social media forum: “What are your thoughts on Common Core Curriculum?”
He had just read an article titled "Massachusetts Dumps Common Core"...
Dairy-Free Days: Nursing a Baby with a Milk and Soy Protein Intolerance
Holy cow products, I’m eating ice cream!! A few days ago, I had lunch with a good friend. Afterwards, he offered to introduce me to the best ice cream I have ever had. While...
Point to Where You’re From on a Map: Raising Children with Mixed Heritage
My four-year-old trotted in from preschool the other day, my husband just behind him with baby sister and the day’s school reports in hand. “Mama, we looked at maps!” he told me happily.
“That’s...
Do We Really Marry Men Like Our Fathers?
Note: While I find both Chris Rock and The Sopranos entertaining, I don’t necessarily endorse their ideologies (that is, I personally have nothing against strippers or psychiatrists). That said, if foul language offends you,...