Christine Derr
Hey, y’all! I’m an adventurous wanderer who put down roots here in East Tennessee back in 2014. My little family moved here from the wilds of suburban Alaska in 2014. We love exploring Knoxville and the surrounding areas, especially the Smoky Mountains.
I’m a freelance writer and teacher who loves looking at the mountains when my nose isn’t in a book. I’m a mom to two bookish kids, a wildly clingy dog, two cats, and a fish I’d be in trouble for not mentioning. Since becoming a mom, I’ve been able to add Lincoln Log architect, LEGO contractor, and mediator to my resume. I’ve always been a bit of a jack of all trades, as I’ve been a tutor, teacher, circus instructor, bookseller, amateur baker and, of course, writer. I remind myself of this as I tell my kid not to sit on my other kid’s head while stopping the dog from chasing the cat and the other cat from jumping on top of the fish tank.
I have a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and am currently pursing my Master of Fine Arts while keeping all these creatures who live in my house alive. I survive on coffee, writing fiction, reading, Disney, and snuggles. You can read more of my work at www.pawprintsinthesink.com.
The Secret to Having a Clean House
How often do you show up for a play date at a friend's house, and they immediately apologize for the mess? Let's be honest: their house is never not clean; it's just that they have...
Advocating for My Child Taught Me to Stand Up for Myself
Once upon a time, I was excellent at standing up for myself. I started petitions, acted on my beliefs, and spoke up when I thought something was wrong. Somewhere along the way, that girl...
Your Hands are Full
“Your hands are full.” Sometimes it’s said with a sneer or a side-eye; on more rare occasions, with a nostalgic smile at my (potentially misbehaving) small boys. It tends to pop up when I’m feeling...
Big Boys Don’t Cry and Other Lies We Tell Our Sons
"You're a big boy now. Big boys don't cry."
Someone spoke these words to my son, on his fifth birthday. In the car the following day, another person said the same thing. I didn't know...
Bunk Beds and Life Lessons
My kids don't sleep. In fact, I've had fewer than seven uninterrupted nights of sleep since the birth of my first child nearly five years ago. It sounds exaggerated, but its true. I've only...
Christmas Craft Gifts for Littles
Christmas is right around the corner, and we're still ambling along in all the festivities we want to participate in before it arrives. While I was actually on top of getting presents bought, wrapped,...
Halloween Hangover
Although the Halloween season is short, it is packed full with events. When I was little (you know, with walking to school in snow, uphill both ways), we wore our costumes one day: to...