By Julie Adamic, Executive Director at John Hancock Charter School
Hello, dear readers!
Let me start by saying this: if you’re a parent, grandparent, guardian, or somehow responsible for a small human being — you are doing amazing. Truly. If no one has told you that today, consider it officially said.
Now, let’s get acquainted. I’m Julie Adamic: a mom of six (yes, six!), lifelong educator, and married to my high school sweetheart. I’ve spent over 35 years working with students, teachers, parents, and community members in just about every educational setting you can imagine. From classrooms to committees, middle schoolers to curriculum policies — I’ve seen it all and probably cried in a school bathroom stall or two. (Hey, it happens.)
You might be wondering, “Why should I listen to her?” Great question. The truth is — I don’t consider myself an “expert.” I don’t even trust people who claim to have all the answers.
Parenting isn’t a multiple-choice test. It’s more like a group project with very confusing instructions, no eraser, and everyone’s running on too little sleep and too much caffeine (darn those dirty sodas).
My goal with these articles is simple: to share the lessons I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way), offer some practical advice, a little encouragement, and maybe a laugh or two along the way. I’ll pull from real-life experiences — from my time as a mom, teacher, administrator, committee-sitter, grandparent-in-training, and reluctant soccer fan (as long as the weather cooperates).
A few things you should know about me:
- I believe dark chocolate is the only real chocolate.
- I love reading, organizing events, and pretending that adding things to an online shopping cart counts as a hobby.
- I find joy in fall leaves, spring flowers, beach days, and road trips where no one asks “Are we there yet?” for the first 10 minutes.
- I appreciate a good laugh, a bad dad joke, and a warm blanket on a cold night.
- I am the oldest child in my family and — in true oldest-child fashion — I like things organized, I feel responsible for everything, and I have a deeply rooted need to make lists. (See above.)
Over the years, I’ve learned that mistakes are often our best teachers. Every parenting misstep, every bedtime meltdown, every forgotten permission slip — they all offer a chance to learn, to grow, and to maybe try again tomorrow. We are all doing the best we can with what we have — and that is more than enough.
So whether you’re celebrating a small win, trying to survive the teenage years, or simply wondering if you’re the only one who’s hiding in the pantry to eat cookies in peace — you’re in the right place.
I’m excited to walk this journey with you. Let’s laugh, learn, and support one another as we do the most important (and sometimes most exhausting) job there is: raising good human beings.
Until next time —
You’ve got this.
Julie
Photo by Ioann-Mark Kuznietsov on Unsplash
Julie Adamic is a lifelong educator, mom of six, and Executive Director at John Hancock Charter School. With over 35 years of experience in classrooms, committees, and school leadership, Julie brings wisdom, warmth, and a sense of humor to everything she writes. She’s passionate about supporting families, building strong communities, and finding grace in the messy, beautiful world of parenting and education.
Whether she’s organizing a school event, hiding in the pantry for a quiet moment, or navigating the ups and downs of raising good human beings, Julie writes with the honesty and heart of someone who’s truly been there. Her columns offer real-life insight, encouragement, and the occasional chocolate-fueled pep talk—all from someone who knows that perfection isn’t the goal… but connection is.
When she’s not writing or wrangling children (or both), Julie enjoys fall leaves, good books, bad dad jokes, and pretending that online shopping counts as a hobby.