I’m in bed right now. My kids (with the charge led by my 12-year-old) wanted to bring me breakfast in bed for Mother’s Day. They made apple cheddar biscuits and pancakes. And though I heard a lot of squabbling while the food assembly was going on, they were quite proud of themselves when they brought me the results. Then all three kids brought up (unexpectedly) brought up their own plates of food and ate in bed with me — while I prayed that nothing would spill on the comforter.
Continue reading “Mother’s Day Is Complicated”Another Christmas Alone

2020 was a rough year overall. We were in near-isolation from March 12th onward, not wanting to take any chances with Covid. We only saw family via Zoom. I had a few gatherings with friends in our backyard with the proper amount of space between us. That was it; I can probably count on one hand the number of people we had meaningful face-to-face connections with once the pandemic really exploded in the United States.
Continue reading “Another Christmas Alone”The Christmas “Shake It Off”

My 11-year-old likes to run around in the backyard. Almost every single day, he’ll announce, “I’m going outside!” and grab his coat. Our backyard is oddly shaped and not flat. He’ll run – back and forth, back and forth – between two trees on the uneven terrain. Says he needs to “think and get my energy out.”
Continue reading “The Christmas “Shake It Off””A Different Thanksgiving Celebration

Our Thanksgiving was only our household this year. As we have been doing for eight months now, we followed public health guidance regarding social gatherings.
Continue reading “A Different Thanksgiving Celebration”It’s Never Just Valentine’s Day
In the passing of years since my daughters died, I have become more prepared for the “hard days” – the hardest being their birthdays. Nelle’s birthday was Labor Day weekend that particular year, so it ushers in multiple days of grief in the subsequent years. And Iris’s birthday is February 13th – the day before Valentine’s Day. As our family prepares to shower love on each other, I am slammed the day before with how she is not with us. Continue reading “It’s Never Just Valentine’s Day”