real, raw motherhood
She’s turning seven in two days. My baby is now a full fledged little girl. Who likes make up, nail polish, pig tails and twirly dresses. Who speaks three languages and is eager to learn more. Who’s in first grade but scored an A+ on a second grade math test yesterday. Who practices leaps in…
I just returned home from two weeks in Japan and I got sick. It started with a dry cough. Then the fever kicked in. Sneezing. Congestion. Sinus pressure. I spent the past two nights on the couch and tonight will probably find me there as well. These are definitely not-much-fun kind of days but I…
I went to bed angry. I woke up angry. In my dreams, people were trying to kill me and the washing machine (which looked like a couch) was leaking. I should have recognized the signs… As I wrote before, I’ve made a goal to go to bed early. A few nights ago, I actually fell…
A rainy day and the house to myself, a sore throat has never felt better. Here is something I wouldn’t have known before becoming a mother: being sick can be fun. Pre-kid, feeling ill meant lower energy. Lower energy meant staying home to rest. Staying home meant that nothing would get done. A day wasted…
Yesterday, our daughter went to Sea Life Park with our neighbors. It was her first time going away for the better part of the day without us. She was excited. So were we. As my husband and I enjoyed some quiet time at home together, we marveled at how fast our daughter is growing up.…
It’s not about what we produce but what we’ve accomplished. That’s what we’re left with at the end of the day” Chris Bailey– as heard in an interview by Claire Diaz-Ortiz– Work By Design Summit Every morning I put away the clean dishes. Every day I’m asked: what’s for breakfast? What’s for lunch? What’s for…
Dear child, You’ve just turned one. In the past twelve months, you have learned so much. You are so interested in the world. You’re a keen observer. You’re patient. You’re gentle. You’re adorable. When you smile, the sun shines a bit brighter. Everything you do amazes us. I wonder what your future holds. I have…
After a lifetime of a strained relationship, five years ago I severed ties with the woman who gave birth to me and raised me. I don’t call her mom since she’s never behaved like one. We live oceans apart and she came for an extended stay at my house when my daughter was eight months…
Dear new mama, I am only a few years ahead of you in this amazing journey of motherhood. I still hold more questions than answers but I’ve learned a few things. New mothers receive much unsolicited advice that range from the very useful to the very annoying. You probably noticed this already during your pregnancy.…
The nurse congratulated me and laid a sweet baby girl into my arms. I gazed into those big blue eyes filled with the most wonderful kind of love. This helpless beautiful little creature depended on me for everything and she wasn’t doubting that she would get everything. Looking into her face was like looking into…