Kacy’s Prose
A collection of essays and reflections on modern parenting, the craft of writing, and whatever else deserves a closer look. Honest, considered perspectives on the moments and ideas that shape how we live.
What Years of Teaching Taught Me About Vulnerability in the Digital Age
I stood in front of my classroom for nearly two decades. During the first several years of my teaching, I’d watch nervous freshmen file into my English classroom, armed with the same defense mechanisms I’d seen for years. They’d grab a seat in the back of the room, avoid eye contact, and slouch in their chairs–the posture that said don’t call on me. They were terrified to be vulnerable, and they just needed a little help finding some courage.
Teens, Social Media, and the Reckoning Parents Can’t Ignore
Parents across the country might want to hit the pause button and reflect on the two incidents that happened in New York this week. NBC New York reported that a 16-year-old boy fell 50 feet down a shaft inside the Queensboro Bridge. Meanwhile, Black Enterprise reported that the Green Acres Mall “takeover” on Long Island was organized through social media posts.
We Had the Best Family Weekend, But the Devices Still Came Out
This past weekend, my family went skiing. By most measures, it was exactly what a family weekend should be. The kids were on the slopes all day, burning energy and making memories. When we got home, we swam in the heated outdoor pool, cleaned up, and went out for a nice dinner. It was full, connected, and fun.
And then, almost on cue, the devices came out.
Why Every Writer Needs a Writing Group
Writing is, by its nature, a solitary act. You sit alone with your thoughts, your doubts, and a blinking cursor that seems to mock your every hesitation. But the journey from first draft to finished piece doesn't have to be a solo mission, and in my experience, it absolutely shouldn't be.
Families Are Experiencing the Harm of Social Media. The World Is Fighting Back
As a landmark trial unfolds in a Los Angeles courtroom and a disturbing kidnapping case exposes the dangers lurking inside children’s gaming platforms, the message from digital safety advocates is louder than ever: social media and online platforms are causing real harm to thousands of families, but the world is mobilizing to protect children in cyberspace.
The Double-Edged Sword: The Real Challenges of Teaching with Technology
Are parents supporting student learning when they send their kids to school with personal devices?
The Deepfake Crisis: When AI Becomes a Weapon Against Students and Teachers
Deepfakes are destroying reputations with little more than one click
Paris Hilton Leads Fight Against Deepfakes: A Growing Threat to Women, Girls, and Young People
Nefarious actors are weaponizing deepfake technologies to exploit and shame victims, and it's a growing epidemic for young girls and women.
Protecting Our Children: Why States Need Social Media Legislation
Cyberbullying, sextortion, and AI deepfakes are driving an urgent need for regulatory action
Breaking Generational Shame: A Family's Hidden Tragedy
A personal essay about confronting family violence, alcoholism, and the courage it takes to face generational trauma and break cycles of shame for the next generation
Learning to Let Go: What My Grandmother Taught Me Years After She Died
How a solo road trip 14 years after my grandmother's death taught me forgiveness and letting go.
My Husband Asked if AI Gives Me Anxiety. I'm More Concerned About Human Apathy
My fears about the power of AI are not just the ramblings of an anxious mom
From Pyre to Zen Den: Trading Mom-Shame for Self-Kindness
My Orange Rhino moment and the colleague who shamed it away
I’m Not Religious, but I Believe in the Power of Prayer
I hate the expression, “I’m not religious,” almost as much as I loathe hearing people admit, “I’m not political.” Both statements make me wonder, what is it you are trying to say about yourself, and what are you afraid that people will believe about you. I’ve grappled with my lack of religious identity for decades. There was a time in my life when I was a proud agnostic toying with the idea of atheism even. For me, religion is antithetical to free will, and I’ll admit that I’m terrified of group think.
Let’s Sleep on It
My 12-year-old is a really good sleeper. For that matter, my husband does a pretty good job at it as well.
I, on the other hand, rarely have what many would call “a good night’s sleep.”
Is My Inability to Recall Words More than Brain Fog?
I was greeting hundreds of attendees at a reception a couple weeks ago, excited to share with them the different resources available to help them navigate the convention center campus where my work was hosting a conference.
“We want to let you know about the many resources at your …, Oh my gosh, I know there’s a word.” I paused while my brain raced to recall the word that so obviously completed this oft-used expression.