The countdown is on. From here until the end of the year, we'll be racing. In some moments we'll be fueled by joy, but in others we'll be fueled by fear–fear of disappointing the people that mean the most to us, fear of missing out, fear of not having or being enough. The days are shorter and filled with more. I'm anticipating feeling like a pot on the edge of over boiling. So much churning, churning. When everyone around you is speeding up, how can you possibly slow down? A few weeks … [Read more...] about The Evening Walk: A Habit That Improved Our Family Life
family life
Why We Gather: A Thanksgiving Challenge
Every night, my family sits down to dinner. And we say grace. I used to close my eyes in solemn prayer, but recently I've been keeping my eyes open, purposefully looking at the people that make up my life and pausing, just for a moment, on each of them in a silent blessing of acknowledgement and gratefulness. We wiggle our eyebrows at each other, wink, and sometimes even smile. I go around the table, one by one. And by the time the prayer is over, I let myself be reminded of what's … [Read more...] about Why We Gather: A Thanksgiving Challenge
Even When It’s Not Your Thing, It Can Still Be A Thing #10yearsaparent
The flyer came home from school on a Thursday. All of the flyers for various events, activities, calendars, and sign-ups arrive in the Thursday folder. I understand the school's intent to streamline the amount of paper and flyers that get sent home, but the brimming Thursday folder pushes my stress meter right into the red zone. It's not the sorting and organizing. I find great pleasure in going through the piles of pastel colored paper and dividing them into Keep and Recycle. Interested and Not … [Read more...] about Even When It’s Not Your Thing, It Can Still Be A Thing #10yearsaparent
Second Place Coconut Macaroons
I know, I know–I'm not ready the talk about The Holidays yet either. I'm still rifling through Halloween candy pilfering Heath Bars from my children. But like a train barreling down the track, there's no avoiding their inevitable arrival. In our house coconut macaroons = the holidays. If I failed to make them, I am convinced that Santa would not come, Rudolph's nose would not shine, and the baby Jesus would not arrive as scheduled. Two years ago I was invited to a cookie swap and my … [Read more...] about Second Place Coconut Macaroons
Dear Friends Without Kids, I’m Sorry
A friend sent my husband an email recently: "We found an old DVD of yours when we were cleaning out our basement. It's labeled Summer 2007. Do you want it? I can drop it in the mail." My husband replied, "Sure. That would be great. Thanks." I had to wonder, How in the hell did our friends come to have a DVD with picture of our kids in their possession? The summer of 2007 was the summer after our second son was born. He was an infant and our first son was 20 months old. We had kids … [Read more...] about Dear Friends Without Kids, I’m Sorry
Identifying A Highly Creative Child #10yearsaparent
#10yearsaparent is back! Here's a little humor to get your creative juices flowing. Now that the kiddos are back in school, you're probably starting to wonder... How long until Ms. Teachy-teach starts noticing what a creative genius my child is? How long until my darling is recruited to be in the special program exclusive to following-in-Steve-Jobs-footsteps kind of kids? How long until all those hours of sitting on the floor pretending I like pretending pay off? If your child … [Read more...] about Identifying A Highly Creative Child #10yearsaparent
Here We Go
Here we go. That was the feeling I had this morning as I put my sons on the school bus for third and fourth grades. That was the feeling as I transcribed their schedules into my online calendar that synchs with my smart phone that will more or less dictate the next nine months of my life. That was the feeling as I returned to my empty house with the mindset of tackling every project that I have let slide for the past two months. I've never been one to lament the passage of time. As … [Read more...] about Here We Go
Where to Find Me: Loud Parents & Living With Boys
A few weeks ago I was in the grocery store waiting in line at the deli (which is where I spend at least 5% of my life), and there was a mother and child waiting behind me. The little girl was being very patient doing normal kid things. There was nothing about her behavior that made me cringe. She was just a little girl doing her best in the deli line. But what happened next, did drive me bonkers so of course I had to write about it. The mother went on and on in a very loud voice about how the … [Read more...] about Where to Find Me: Loud Parents & Living With Boys