Permission

I didn’t get the job. I applied for a marketing position at a local arts advocacy group, and made it to the final 2 candidates in what seemed to be an extremely competitive process, considering I had three interviews with a total of six different people. The job itself came to me by serendipity. I …

Though She Be Little…

  At 4:00am, my little gal, a strong-willed and intuitive four-year-old child, entered my room, snuck up to my side of the bed, and sweetly whispered, “Mommy, can I ask you a question?” Through the early morning fog, I answered, “Of course my darling wonderful child*.” (*I did not call her darling and wonderful, but …

Patchwork Bliss

One night ago, I dreamt of patchwork quilts. They appeared throughout my dream journey, at one point for sale in a whimsical boutique my friend started, another time, hanging on a wall in a sun-filled yoga studio. Two days ago I deep cleaned my house, taking eight hours to carefully mop floors, scrub toilets and …

I didn’t sign up for this…

A kindergartener? I mean, really? This kid? He used to not exist. Then he was just a rumble in my belly. Then he was just this tiny thing that napped and nursed and napped and cried. I wore him in my baby wrap while slinging popcorn at The Moxie. I took him with me to …

Neat and Tidy

When my oldest was almost four, he developed an alter-ego named Mr. Jasper, who spoke with a British accent. Mr. Jasper worked in a laundry in South America, but came to Ohzmark (Ozark) to be with LOTS of girls. But then he moved to Washington, DC, and we haven't really heard from him since. I …

The Harder You Work, The Luckier You Get

Laura McHugh is a newly published author with a soon-t0-be best-seller "The Weight of Blood." I am fascinated by debut authors, by their process, by their success. And I was lucky enough to go hear Ms. McHugh chat about all of this at my local library this week. Hearing that she wrote at home with …

Baby It’s Cold Outside

Every mother with young children that I've talked with this week has expressed the exact same thought: Well, we're making memories, at least. During this polar vortex that has left so many of us stuck inside, we have to battle our wits, our sanity, and our children to make the most and not go stir …

Big Expectations for the Shortest Day of the Year

It started with a Celestial Seasoning's Gingerbread Tea box: "Gingerbread has been a holiday treat for 2,000 years! The Celts marked the winter solstice by eating small gingerbread cakes decorated with images of the sun to celebrate the longer days ahead." Hmm, thought I. That sounds wonderful. I love Winter Solstice. I love gingerbread. I …

The Only Thing to Fear…is EVERYTHING

My whole life I've had a string of irrational fears and worries. There's the fear of doctors, that required valium during regular check up visits; there's the fear of messing up someone's name, even though I know 100% that the person I'm speaking with is in fact, named the name I'm thinking of; I'm horrifically …

Friday Reads: Existential Picture Books

Excuse me, little boy of mine, while I sit and ponder what your picture book is trying to say. By 8pm, I just want to turn off my brain and read THE GRUFFALO to you (the best picture book ever written, in my opinion), not something that inspires discussion and questions about life beyond life. …