I took my boys to the Christmas concert at church on Sunday afternoon, our first time going. At four and six years old, I hoped they could sit through an hour of beautiful musical performances. They burned off some extra energy at the reception beforehand, running around the tables with their little friends and sneaking …
Dressember – On Stewarding my Privilege
Yesterday, millions of Americans gathered around their tables to give thanks for their blessings. I was one of them, and thinking over the many blessings in my life was truly humbling. I was born into a loving family in the richest nation in the world; I have a college education, and a husband with a …
Conquering the Clutter
As moms managing young children as well as our households, we are constantly surrounded by the responsibility generated by our stuff. We clean all the clothes and put them away. We grocery shop, and put the food away. We pick up clutter to vacuum the floor. We sort through the mound of shoes to find …
All Shame in that Comparison Game
I'm lucky enough to live in a townhouse community where I know most of my neighbors, some of whom are colleagues and many of whom are friends. We share a wall with another young family: Missy is a friend of mine, her husband teaches at the same university as my husband, and their two kids …
How Playing the Tooth Fairy Made Me Question my Parenting
My six year old son had a milestone moment this week: he lost his first tooth. He's young for his grade and had looked on for some months as his classmates lost tooth after tooth. So it was with great excitement that he held up his tooth, safe in a tiny plastic treasure chest, to …
Continue reading How Playing the Tooth Fairy Made Me Question my Parenting
Life Lessons from a Five Year Journal
I perused the shelves of the bookstore, careful not to let my pregnant belly knock anything down. I was drawn to the selection of pretty journals and notebooks; I've always loved writing, and journaling in coffee shops used to be one of my favorite hobbies. I hadn't written a word in over a year, since …
A List of Small Joys
Paying with exact change Climbing into freshly cleaned sheets Dipping a knife into a brand new jar of peanut butter Checking the last item off a to-do list The smell of your baby's head after a bath The first sip of coffee in the morning Making someone smile or laugh Watching fireflies dance across a …
