I became a mother for the first time thirty-three years ago today. I’m not going down the how-did-that-happen-so-quickly path. It happens. My daughter had some issues early on, some that had a diagnosis, and some that didn’t. Developmental delay was thrown around a lot so we’ll go with that. I was thanking God for allowing … Read more
As I mentioned last week, I have a podcast, Chasing Hard. I can hardly believe it is already two and a half months old! I have talked with some lovely people about some hard topics. My first guest was Elizabeth Laing Thompson. She was a beautiful first guest, so gracious and forgiving of the newness … Read more
It’s Mother’s Day, and I’m a mother and for that I am grateful. It wasn’t always easy or fun. The pregnancies, labor and delivery. The sleepless nights. The diapers, oh, the diapers… The toys, laundry, messes and more toys, laundry and messes. The trips to the pediatrician’s office for well-checks and not-so-well checks. The pets, … Read more
There comes a time in each of our lives when mothering changes. And not just once. It’s something that happens over, and over with each new phase. Because each new phase of our children’s lives comes complete with a new phase for us. I read a Facebook post of a friend today. She was lamenting … Read more
I saw a post on Facebook last week. A mother had taken her son to New York City to celebrate his sixteenth birthday. She said the best part of the entire trip was when they were walking down the busy sidewalk and he nonchalantly slipped his hand into her’s. Her heart swelled from the love … Read more
Yesterday was my daughter’s birthday. My first born. She was away for her birthday, helping at a camp for the mentally and/or physically handicapped. She volunteers every year at this camp. She always comes home stretched in new ways and saying she may not go back next year. But we both know she will. She … Read more
Do you remember one of the songs in The Sound of Music? Raindrops on roses And whiskers on kittens Bright copper kettles And warm woolen mittens Brown paper packages tied up with string, these are a few of my favorite things. I was sitting in a drive-thru line at McDonald’s the other day and heard … Read more
Are you a helicopter mom? This is a relatively new term to me. I have heard it several times over the last few months but since my kids are grown I didn’t pay much attention. I sort of figured out what a helicopter mom is, but for the sake of argument let’s start by defining … Read more
Mothers listen to the sounds of their children. They listen with their ears. They listen with their hearts. They listen to the words spoken, sometimes between gulps and breaths between sobs. They listen to the silence. They listen to the banter and the make-believe. They listen to the sing-song way they talk to their stuffed … Read more
Life is full of many first times. The first time you stay away from home as a kid. The first time you go on a date or drive alone. The first time you have a child, and all the first times that entails. Now I am experiencing new first times. I experienced a new first … Read more