Current dissertation status: 4 chapters begun but with holes to fill, 116 pages. 1 chapter completely unwritten.
Planet Word Museum in Washington, DC
Hi there! I'm Kimberly Hirsh. My pronouns are she/ her/hers. I'm somebody's mom. I work as a school librarian. I have a PhD in information and library science. I love to read, play tabletop and video games, and make things. I used to perform in theater and improv comedy and I may one day again. I have been extremely online since 1993 and still enjoy tinkering on the web. I manage multiple chronic illnesses. I'm married to my kid's dad. We have a cat.
Want to get in touch? You can reach me by email.
Recent posts
📚 Reading Sarah Kendzior’s (@sarahkendzior) book HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT & had to take a crying break after the intro bc “I have nostalgia for the future, because I am a mother and whatever system wins will be the one my children will inherit.” p. 15
I definitely just handed The Teacher from the Black Lagoon to my kid thinking it was Miss Nelson Is Missing, which is how you know my teen librarian chops are stronger than my children’s librarian chops.
My kid is 4 and I might almost be ready to share my birthing story but not yet.
It’s my kid’s birthday today, and thus my birthing day. It’s interesting that the author of the linked post wrote it as her kid was turning 4, since that’s how old my kid is today. I haven’t shared my birth story with very many people, because it is private and traumatic. I’m wondering if I’ll be ready to, soon. I feel like I might.
Before I gave birth, I made a cute comic about my brother’s birth 22 years earlier and said “I wonder what my hilarious birth story will be!”
Friends, very little of my birth story is funny.
It felt like a Campbellian journey.
My sweet mother-in-law texted me today to say she honors me on this day, too. It’s so appreciated.
Next time you celebrate a kid’s birthday, try to be mindful of how it might be impacting the kid’s grownups, too. If the one who gave birth is around, it’s almost certainly a time of complex feelings. BUT PRIDE AND JOY OF COURSE! But also lots of other complex feelings. Other grownups might be having big feelings at that time, too.
Until I feel comfortable writing my birth story, just watch this SNL digital short and know that I cry every time I watch it, because it’s funny because it’s true.
I did a dissertation bootcamp last week and honestly I feel like I need a break. We spent some time Friday talking about how to maintain momentum but I don’t think my body is ready for that.
Today I learned that my kid’s teacher plays tabletop RPGs. ♥️ (I did not ask her if I could get in on her game.)
Kimberly Hirsh Presents: Things of Bronze - Welcome to the Hellmouth and The Harvest
I’m experimenting with podcasting about whatever I want. I’ve got 3 finished episodes of a planned Buffy the Vampire Slayer podcast called Things of Bronze, so I thought I’d go on and upload the pilot for it and see how it goes. Show notes and transcript coming soon!
My not-quite-4yo just told me that the famous quote from The New Colossus begins “Give me all your money.” I said, “Oh buddy, it doesn’t, but it probably should.”
Listening to M. & W. play that they are the kids from The Magic Treehouse and have wished their way into the Hundred Acre Wood. 😍
Welcome to October, y’all.
