Kim Oppelt
A native northern Minnesotan, Kim lives in Duluth with her husband Chad and two kids, Maria (10) and Thomas (7). Kim works for an ed tech company based in Washington DC where she has a passion for college and career readiness. Kim loves to haul her kids to all of their activities and work on her non-profit providing teachers with innovative grants. She is currently completing her doctorate in educational leadership. When she can sneak some free time, Kim loves spending time on Island Lake, going to happy hour, and spending time with family and friends.
To My Daughter, On Her First Day of Middle School
Dear Daughter,
Just like every August, we’ve done everything we need to do: bought new shoes, gathered new school supplies, and spiffed up the school uniform. However, this year won’t be like the others. This...
Managing Screen Time in the Summer (Without Losing Your Mind)
It’s summer, and in our house, inevitably it’s time for the age-old question: “Can I play video games?” And it’s not just video games. It’s screen time on iPads, watching tv, and computer games...
Confessions of a Work from Home Mom
Going through college and graduate school, I never EVER imagined that I’d work from a home office. Being a very social person, I always imagined myself working in a school until I retired, then...
Papa Murphy’s Helps Out on Hockey Night
Hockey Moms Need Help
Hockey moms are compared to so many things - grizzly bears, pit bulls, you name it. But if I had to compare myself as a hockey mom to any animal, it...
When You’re a Mom in an Era of School Shootings
One of the most vivid memories I have is driving my daughter to school on December 17, 2012. As we pulled up to the school, I noticed a couple of police cars parked outside....
5 Reasons Outdoor Hockey is the Best Hockey
For just a few short months, community centers all across the city transform into something unique to the bold north: the outdoor skating rink. Duluth holds a unique spot in hockey history. As the...
A New Addition to our Holiday Bucket List: Candlelight Christmas Tour at Glensheen
After living in Duluth for almost 10 years, I had assumed we had done it all at Christmas time - Bentleyville, Christmas City Express, the Christmas City of the North Parade, all of the countless markets - I could go on and on. We’ve driven around to the best-lit neighborhoods and we have all of our traditions mapped out by the time October hits. We know this Christmas city like the back of our hand. But imagine my surprise when we happened upon a new tradition to add to the list: Candlelight Christmas Tour at Glensheen Mansion.
Dear Friend, I’m Still Here
Within two weeks of each other, two of my closest friends lost their parents. It was a hectic time, full of tears, anticipation, and craziness. We kept the floral shops in business during that...
Why Every High School Senior Should Complete the FAFSA
I remember it like yesterday, and working in the college readiness field, I think about it all the time. I was obsessed with my college search. In 10th grade my best friend and I...
The Day My Kid Quit My Favorite Sport
It sounds dramatic, but she knew how important the sport was to me. We had traveled to shows, competitions, and exhibitions. We have spent more money than I even want to imagine. I was even on the board of directors for the skating club. She knew. I knew. So last week, I told her I was behind her 100%. With tears in her eyes and some trepidation, she ended it. And you know what? The world didn’t end.