There is a house on Colonial Heights with a postage-stamp-sized front yard. The hedges that lined the sidewalk, the garden in the corner with its portulacas and hens and chicks, and the shade from the trees with the low-hanging branches seemed to create their own little oasis, in my eight year old mind. The closed-in … Continue reading The House on Colonial Heights
Mid-Life Lessons at 45
Yes, that is my age; for anyone whom I did not go to school with, just in case you were wildly curious, but were afraid to ask. I'm not about to claim any ground-breaking revelations here, and I'm not operating under the delusion that everyone will agree with me. But as I no longer consider … Continue reading Mid-Life Lessons at 45
There Is…
There is a song that plays on the radio, "Upside Down" by Jack Johnson, as we begin a long drive home. There are tears that I'm trying to keep, unsuccessfully, from leaking out of my eyes. There is a scratchy Dunkin Donuts napkin I use to wipe them away. There are memories tied to this … Continue reading There Is…
If You Give a Mom a Cookie
If you give a Mom a cookie, she'll probably stand at the counter to eat it, with her back to her children so they don't see her eating a cookie right before dinner time. As she stands at the counter, she'll see a pile of crumbs. She'll sweep them into her hand and … Continue reading If You Give a Mom a Cookie
I am a Mom
I am a Mom. I am a Situation Assessor and a Situation Handler. I am the Chaser of Nightmares and the Monster Vanquisher I am the Maker of Magic Potions Sprinkler of Pixie Dust The Spider Catcher I am a Keeper of Secrets and a Finder of Things I am the Mood-Gauge and the Tone-Setter … Continue reading I am a Mom
The Job
You never think this time is going to come. You start this parenting journey and it seems so long and tiring at first. It's all sleepless nights and endless laundry and constant washing and feeding and worrying. Well, the worrying never stops, anyway. You think, if I can just get a full night's sleep, I'll … Continue reading The Job
The Story
I don't know much about the Vietnam War except what's been written in U.S. history textbooks. I am not a history buff. I know what my Dad, a veteran, has chosen to tell me, and that's very little. I know it was a war that divided generations of Americans, many stuck in their own … Continue reading The Story
One Fish Two Fish
Youngest Son and I are reading Lemony Snickett's Series of Unfortunate Events together. Unfortunately, the other night we found ourselves in between books, and the library was closed. I asked him what he'd like to read, and he said, "You can choose a picture book." So in honor of Dr. Seuss's birthday this … Continue reading One Fish Two Fish
A Lesson in Art History
The first lesson I learned as a teacher was that you should always come to class prepared. The second lesson- and just as important as the first- was that no matter how much you prepare, teaching can be ninety-five percent improvisation. But you should show up prepared anyway. Because if you don't, the kids can … Continue reading A Lesson in Art History
Yankee Swap
I was first introduced to the Yankee Swap at our family Christmas party, although I don't remember exactly how long ago. I can't remember a family Christmas party without a Yankee Swap, so it's obviously been a tradition for a long time. Although everyone just called it the "Grab Bag," which seemed appropriate for the … Continue reading Yankee Swap
