This has made my decision to leave teaching easier. There were several reasons I taught for eighteen years without a living wage, but the real reason: the creative writing classroom had always been a sacred space to me.

At hockey, parents perch in loose rows. I’m not always prepared with blankets and a sensible coat, but so many of us wear heated vests, bring luxurious, cozy blankets, snacks for younger children, and form a community in which we spend three, sixteen-minute periods with our nervous systems vigilant for our children.