It’s mid-November and every vision of our school year, every high standard I held myself to as a mother, as their teacher – they are the piles of rubble and dust that I am now climbing over and brushing from the bottom of my bare… Read More
The clock ticked to midnight last night as we drove home, a car full of sleeping, Halloween-sugar-drunk children. The alarm on Vinnie’s phone went off, alerting us to Lila’s Birthday, Location: Princess Land. Is that where we are now? Princess land? There as we through… Read More
I spent the day trying to pinpoint a moment. I spent the day trying to remember when this attitude started, when this smarter-than-thou, I’m-my-own-person-give-me-my-space, phase began. I spent the day wondering if I am too hard on him. I worried that he is angry, but… Read More
My grandmother and I hugged and asked each other the same question we always ask at these things, these family cookouts, Christmas parties, get-togethers. How’s life? She asked first, and so I let loose the usual Oh, busy, busy, busy, diapers, portrait sessions, kids in my hair,… Read More
Here’s a (not so big) secret about me: I cannot say no. Unless you are under five feet tall and either directly descended from me or placed in my care for babysitting – I will find a way to give you whatever you ask for.… Read More
Dear Lila: When I die, I want to be holding my two special quarters and be buried with them. And Fluffy Unicorn. And your hands. You said this to me today. It was mid-bath, while I rigorously scrubbed frothy peppermint shampoo in your head. Shampoo… Read More
I’ve been stopped a lot in the past couple of years. Stopped, as in, pulled over for a reason other than an expired inspection ticket. And a lot, meaning, three times. I’m thirty-four, and this is the most I have ever seen flashing lights in… Read More
I wrote this six years ago, in the fall of 2007 when it was just Alex and Lila: He’s pushing trucks around the house, hiding in duffle bags, zooming over the arms of the sofa, making squealing noises as they try to stop before diving… Read More
This is parenthood. This is motherhood. This, right here, this moment I’m having in the three AM of my soul. This aching, stretching, bending, breaking. This impossible desire to do everything just so. So he won’t question himself. So she won’t run wild. So he… Read More
So, this arrived today. With it came a sense of relief, of happiness in finally being officially settled into this decision. After months of talking the talk, we’re now on the books. Which means, of course, we have to walk the walk. We’ve been blessed… Read More
The Frozen Moon 