What an era to be living in. It’s the second time in a decade that we’re thinking, “Well, this is a moment for the history books.” (Or the Wikipedia pages.) Are there any existential threats that AREN’T buzzwords right now? It feels like all the things are on the line. No wonder #elbowsup was a…
Tag: love
Hate shall not win; Love is our best thing.
I love you, lovelies. Today feels like a really dark day. Like many of you, I didn’t sleep well last night. Waking up to this awful reality, the far-reaching possible consequences churning in my gut… It’s heavy. You all know – we’re not fine. I guess my shock and disbelief are products of trying not…
Maybe a little bit of birthday celebration
Dear Sebastian, A week ago Sunday, as I was making black raspberry cobbler for your 12th birthday, I realized something. I thought back to the day of your birth, and your first and second birthdays, and how impossible it felt to “celebrate” the day back then. I could not conceive of making cake or blowing up…
To my firstborn son, on your graduation from childhood (i.e. Grade 8)
Dear E, You’ve made it! Today (right now, in fact) you are celebrating your Grade 8 graduation, and I really want to say a few words. I write to you in my head with every birthday and milestone, but there are not very many birthday blog posts from recent years. (Sigh… you know how June…
“Mom Grief” Could Apply To Anyone
A couple of months ago, I was talking with two of my colleagues about something we dubbed “mom grief.” The three of us are at different stages of our parenting journeys, but we agreed that there is a not-often-discussed grief that applies to all involved parents. Just seeing your children grow is incredibly beautiful, but…
How can I be writing about this again?
It has been almost a decade since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Is that enough time between senseless mass killings of American children? How can we be here again? Being a human, and especially an elementary school teacher, I grieve every time this happens, anywhere. I’m sure these Grade 4 students in Texas are…
Celebrating my 9-year-old on International Day of the Girl
Dear AB, Today is International Day of the Girl Child, and it seems a great opportunity to talk about you, my Rainbow baby, seeing as your birthday was less than two weeks ago. Your birthday will henceforth always fall on the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation (though you have been wearing an orange shirt…
To My Firstborn, Age 12
Dear E, You’ve now been twelve for three weeks. It has been a long time since I managed to post about you for your birthday, because funnily enough, it always falls at the busiest time of year. I am determined to write – and finish – this post, so that someday (if you ever read…
A Lovely Anniversary – Gratitude Day 8
Today I’m grateful for happy anniversary memories of this day last year – and this whole weekend last year – when my sister Emily married her love. I’m grateful that I got to be there in Seattle (actually nearby Everett) as a witness – facilitated by my now-brother-in-law (thank you! xoxo). And I’m extra-grateful that…
To My Firstborn On His 10th Birthday
Dear E, It’s Thursday night, June 6th, 2019. Tonight marks a whole decade since I went to the hospital to have the first procedure of my induction, because you were already 9 days late. You were born two days later, utterly uprooting and replanting our lives with your arrival. This evening, you and I took…