When my girls were in middle school, one of their assignments was to write a poem titled "I Am From." I've saved those poems, and I still read them. I always loved the idea of a piece that was a word collage of memories. In honor of Mother's Day, I've written my own "I Am … Continue reading I Am From
Family
Flea Market Weekend
On the first weekend in May, there is an antique car show and flea market in Rhinebeck, NY. When I was a kid, this was arguably one of my favorite weekends of the whole year. We'd pack up our little family camper with clothes and food. Then my dad would pack his stuff, filling the … Continue reading Flea Market Weekend
Old Wives Tales
Remember when your mother told you to be nice to your brother? It's because a gypsy once came to the house, offering to buy you, but your brother wouldn't let her sell you. That one came from a friend, but I can certainly remember a lot of stuff my mom (and grandma and aunts) told … Continue reading Old Wives Tales
Corn Maze
No one wants me on their team for the Corn Maze. The "discussion" goes something like this... Dad: "We're going to the Corn Maze tomorrow! It's going to be so fun!" Me: "Yay! Who wants to be on my team?" Silence. I'm met with silence as my whole family stares awkwardly at the floor, waiting … Continue reading Corn Maze
Butternut Squash
I tried a new recipe last night- seasoned roasted butternut squash with chicken sausage. It was yummy. (Warning: this post contains the most profanity per paragraph than any piece I've written about food, or even parenting, for that matter.) Cutting that damn squash would prove to be The Biggest Pain in The Ass of The … Continue reading Butternut Squash
My Three Words, Teen Edition
I've often said how thankful I am that, as a parent, we (collectively) get to grow into the phase of parenting teenagers... that if I had to learn how to parent teens first, I'd have suffered a nervous breakdown within the first month. Parenting babies and toddlers, by comparison, now seems easy to … Continue reading My Three Words, Teen Edition
Oh, You’re FINE
If you're a parent of children who are old enough to communicate, chances are you've said this phrase to them more times than you can count. Falls, scrapes, scratches, bumps, bruises, bug bites... sometimes our kids complain so much that we become immune to it. It's a parenthood survival coping mechanism, I think. It doesn't … Continue reading Oh, You’re FINE
Photo Fail: The Story Behind the Picture
I'd like to share with you what is, undoubtedly, one of my most epic photo fails of all time. In fact, I actually dare you to beat me on this one. June 2nd: Graduation Day for our first born and our nephew. I'm emotional and excited, she's emotional and excited. I have a houseful of … Continue reading Photo Fail: The Story Behind the Picture
The House on Colonial Heights
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
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…
