My first grader came home with a project called “My Holiday Customs and Traditions.” It included a list of questions to answer about how our family spends the holidays and a requirement to make a poster to accompany an in-class presentation. The underlying theme is to celebrate differences in both the holidays celebrated and the traditions that the families have created for themselves. Continue reading
Navigating the Holidays
The day before Thanksgiving, Ger made a comment to me that Thanksgiving was an “easy” holiday. Unlike the anticipation of Christmas or the stigma of Valentine’s Day, Thanksgiving was just a day to be grateful for what you have, in his mind.
I responded “But what about people who are hurting?” I pointed out people that we know who are going through or newly divorced. Families with tensions and forced interactions. People spending a first holiday without a parent who passed away within the last year. And of course, the countless families in our world who are spending the day missing a baby that died. Continue reading
Needing Distractions for the Day
On this day in 2015, I was at O’Hare airport waiting for a flight to Kansas City. The day had produced the first snow of the year, and not in a small amount. It caused delay after delay, rescheduled flight, getting onto the plane and waiting for more than an hour on the tarmac, only to be told that the flight was cancelled and needing to de-plane. I had been at the airport for about 15 hours at that point, only to go to baggage claim and discover that my suitcase had been lost. Continue reading
The Heavy Months
I have come to realize that Fall brings months of heaviness for me. And I love Fall – it is my favorite season. The change in color, the big sweaters, the warm drinks – all feed a homebody like me who wants nothing more than to curl up by the fire with a book.
But ever since losing Nelle in September of 2015, Fall now brings a lot of anticipation. Continue reading
Owning My (Ink) Story
Last week, I added two more tattoos. I had been thinking about both for awhile and as a birthday present to myself, scheduled an appointment to do them at the same time. Continue reading
