First read this article by Virginia Sole-Smith. “How to stay sane about Halloween candy.” I’ll admit, I was anxious about this Halloween. How was I going to handle the candy this year with two kids, and with one who is only a toddler? Last year, my oldest, then 5, got so much candy. And she…
We were in the car and somehow the topic of birth came up. She started to ask me questions about scenarios and birth. “What would happen if someone gave birth in their house? In their car? In a parking lot? In the ocean? In outer space?” She got stuck on my answer about having a…
“What would you like for snack?” I asked. “Gummies,” she responds. Every. Time. “AGUA!” shouts my youngest. This is my house, currently. As I embark on intuitive eating, a quest to rid my life of diet culture and to embrace this squishy, perfect body of mine, I am considering how our house can move in…
“Do I look pretty?” she asked. “You always look pretty,” I responded. “And that dress is pretty too.” I had a realization this morning, these come all too often anymore. As I navigate healing and existing in this world, I continue to unravel the layers of how I live differently than I say and love.…
Six years old had been an amazing ride. I am watching this little person start to sense and understand empathy. I am watching her start to see impact and feel guilt about impact she doesn’t intend. I am starting to see her consider her options, make choices and be a little less implusive. She is…
My youngest is 19 months old, so it’s time to start talking about race. In our house, we believe that being race explicit is essential to understanding racism and oppression in this world and country. We also believe that colorblindness is harmful and we want them to untangle this problematic worldview in their lives. Once,…
They quit me. Just like that and it was over. One morning it was a refusal, and then another, and then another. They just kept coming. Uncomfortable, breasts engorged from unexpressed milk, I wasn’t sure what to do. “Maybe, it’s a phase,” I thought, “or maybe it was a strike. I’ve heard that babies can have…
Two of my most read blog pieces were about dealing with food and my kids. See them here and here. Writing is a way for me to put to paper, to the world sometimes, what is going on. And it’s a way to show my learning. Both pieces I wrote feel out of date, and…
I’ve done some deep diving into how I parent lately and thinking about what I’d want to share with others. One thing keeps popping up for me. Apologies. I wonder how many parents apologize to our kids. Society tells us that we are all knowing. That we are the guides, the teachers, the ones who…
“Mom, come quick, you have to see this bird. It’s so beautiful,” she said. I was in the baby’s room getting them ready for something. “Can I borrow your phone? I want to take a picture,” she asked. I handed over the phone and finished what I was doing quickly to make it over to…
