Caitlin Bracken (she/her)

I will never forget this moment ♥ @Toriaclaire @ITLWorldwide @CrownHousePub @Sharifahlee4 Forgive me babbling away, I'm still high on adrenaline I think!

Wise words “My name’s Frank. I’m 64, a retired electrician. Forty-two years I spent running wires through houses, fixing breakers, making sure people had light in their kitchens and heat in their winters. Never once did anyone ask me where I went to college. Mostly, they just wanted to know if I could get the power back on before their ice cream melted. Last May, I was at my granddaughter Emily’s school career day. You know the drill — doctors, lawyers, a software guy in a slick suit talking about “scaling startups.” I was the only one there with a tool belt and work boots. When it was my turn, I told the kids, “I don’t have a degree. I’ve never sat in a lecture hall. But I’ve wired schools, hospitals, and your principal’s house. And when the hospital generator failed during a snowstorm in ’98, I was the one in the basement with a flashlight, keeping the lights on for newborn babies upstairs.” The kids leaned forward. They had questions — real ones. “How do you fix stuff in the dark?” “Do you make a lot of money?” “Do you ever get zapped?” (Yes, once, and it’ll curl your hair.) When the bell rang, one boy hung back. Small kid, freckles, hoodie too big for him. He mumbled, “My uncle’s a plumber. People laugh at him ’cause he didn’t finish high school. But… he’s the only one in the family who can fix anything.” I looked that boy in the eye and said, “Kid, your uncle’s a hero. When your toilet overflows at midnight, Harvard ain’t sending anyone. A plumber is.” Here’s the thing nobody told me when I was young — the world doesn’t run without tradespeople. You can have all the engineers you want, but if nobody builds the house, wires the power, or lays the pipes, those blueprints just sit in a drawer. We’ve made it sound like trades are what you do if you can’t go to college, instead of a path you choose because you like working with your hands, solving problems, and seeing your work stand solid for decades. Four years after high school, some kids walk away with diplomas. Others walk away with zero debt, a union card, and a skill they can take anywhere in the world. And guess what? When your furnace dies in January, it’s not the diploma that saves you. A few weeks ago, that same freckled kid’s mom stopped me at the grocery store. She said, “You probably don’t remember, but you told my son trades are important. He’s shadowing his uncle this summer. First time I’ve seen him excited about anything in years.” That’s the part we forget — for some kids, knowing their path is respected changes everything. It’s not about “just” fixing wires or pipes. It’s about pride. Purpose. The kind that sticks with you long after the job’s done. So next time you meet a teenager, don’t just ask, “Where are you going to college?” Ask, “What’s your plan?” And if they say, “I’m learning to weld,” or “I’m starting an apprenticeship,” smile big and say, “That’s fantastic. We’re going to need you.” Because we will. More than ever. And when the lights go out, you’ll be glad they showed up.”

40. Not in My Book by Katie Holt As I take my half term a week late, this was a stellar start. I *love* love stories.

39. More Than a Feeling by Cate Woods I really couldn't see how this would have the rom-com 'happily ever after'... and she still pulled it off 🥰 Just what I needed on my train home.

2025 Reading Thread! I love recording my reads this way, keeping track and sharing what I've read in the hope of finding other readers' suggestions along the way.

Sometimes a quote enters your consciousness at just the right time...

First lecture of my MA this evening and I'm so excited to fall back into step with the bit of my brain that loves to learn ❤️

I am not autistic because my mum took paracetamol while pregnant. I am autistic because she who is chronically time-blind had children with he who has been obsessed with the Titanic since he was 15 and has an encyclopaedic knowledge of sharks, motorbikes and D-Day.

@checkemoutbooks @BooksandChokers @_KnightsOf @ed_pr @KirstenBryony @SlatteryMr @PaulWat5 @KateHeap1 @jacquiS21 @karen_wallee @erinlynhamilton @MirandaMcK @Book_Craic @TeresaCremin Somehow this wasn't on my radar at all - I don't know how! Now on the lookout for a copy. After reading A Kind of Spark and Keedie, @BooksandChokers is one of my absolute favourite authors 🥰

1 of a book’s special gifts is the empathetic skills it helps nurture in a reader & you won’t find one better than Role Model - my fav @BooksandChokers story so far! How will Aeriel cope in the spotlight? Thanks @_KnightsOf @ed_pr @KirstenBryony 📖 checkemoutbooks.wordpress.com/2025/09/21/rol…

You don’t have to figure everything out today. One step at a time Image: instagram.com/dearbeautifulf…

“Hope that made sense” “I’m fine either way” “Anyways, sorry for rambling” “Just a thought, whatevs” — little anxiety-fueled gifts I like to send along with any communication in an attempt to shield myself from rejection

If you still need an explanation of why Graham Linehan was arrested, you’re choosing ignorance. His dehumanising actions towards trans people led to violence. Don’t laugh it off. Be outraged, speak up, and hold those who enable him accountable. #TransRights

My second August without preparing a classroom, without getting ready to go back to school. I did wake up this morning with a sudden thought that I should have been doing something all summer - my body still hasn't forgotten that feeling!

I've just had a little emotional moment reading this. I'm not a classroom teacher anymore but to suddenly find niche content of teachers with disabilities is an enormous comfort. tldr - you can still be a damn good teacher without standing every minute of the day