Mothering is sacred work. I pour every ounce of goodness & light I have into this child. But what about the broken parts of me that need mothering, too?
The Riddle of Motherhood
Just Breathing Out Lovingkindness Over Here
So I told her to make her own damn sandwich. (Note: I did not actually say damn out loud. But I said it real, real loud in my head. I think she could probably hear it) She huffed and puffed while she made her sandwich. I took my coffee and my English muffin to the other side of the kitchen, where her huffing was muted by the snorting of the dog.
7 Reasons to Love Seven
When I found out I was (finally) pregnant, I fundamentally misunderstood what was about to happen. I mean, I wanted a KID. What I got was, well, a baby. Turns out, babies aren’t really my thing.
We Do Not Have to Live Like This
I haven't talked to Jane about the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. How do you tell a 7 year old, who loves school above all else, that 17 people went in to school one morning and never came back out? How will she ever feel safe again, once she knows the truth? I... Continue Reading →
Seven Years Ago: The Two Things I Promised My Girl
My sweet baby Jane came into the world 7 years (and 4 days) ago. I had some pretty naive ideas about motherhood then. I thought she'd never wear pink. (By day 4 she had on her first pink outfit. She hasn't turned back since.) I strongly opposed princesses and damsels-being-rescued in any format. (Jane's 4th... Continue Reading →
Reckoning
All my life, I was taught to curry favor with men. That’s the honest to God truth.
Hard Truths
Through quick glances in my rearview mirror, I watched my sweet 6-year-old sob on the way home from the grocery store yesterday. I wish it was because I wouldn't buy her something in the checkout line. Or because she'd gotten in trouble AGAIN for her reckless driving of the shopping cart. But it was much more complicated--and painful--than that.
Resilience
“We are going to move away from the only home you’ve ever really known,” we said. “Okay,” she said. “We know that you’re leaving behind friends and family. It’s okay to miss them, and it's okay to cry.” “But I will get to live in the same place as my best friends. And their moms.... Continue Reading →
Grace, Unexpected
On Tuesday morning, Jane and I barely made it out of the house on time for school. Getting ready in the mornings involves some pretty stellar teamwork—and when I say teamwork, I mean that Jane is responsible for getting her own self dressed & ready to walk out the door. It each girl for herself... Continue Reading →
You Don’t Like the Buzzer?
When I signed Jane up to play basketball this winter, I had no idea how much I'd learn. And my learning had little to do with the game itself and much more to do with resilience and joy and kicking perfectionism in the ass. Our family belongs to the YMCA. Consequently, at the tender age... Continue Reading →