Tag: children
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Finding the Beauty Through the Weeds
I’ve written before about my affinity towards weeds – their persistence, their unconventional beauty, their unsung purpose. But there can also be a dark side to weeds, a literal choking out of light. Weeds, seemingly innocuous at first, can grow so thick and fast that it makes thriving, or even surviving, impossible for other important…
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The Great Unfurling of Growing Up
Eight years. Eight years since I crossed the holy threshold of birth to become a mother. Dreams brought to life with the great ache of joy; quivering, squeezing, stretching until I emerged as something wholly new, holding someone holy and new. And now, through the creeping crawl of the days and the great strides of…
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Five Favorites: Roque Bluffs & Machias, Maine
When we first started planning our trip to Maine (and to be clear, planning is a term I use very lightly, as neither my husband nor myself are natural planners), we knew we wanted to be in the general vicinity of Acadia. Close enough to go in and enjoy the park, but far enough out…
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10 Tips for Traveling Solo with Kids
My baby was tucked snuggly in the back seat of the car. She’d been changed, fed, and was now sucking contentedly on her pacifier. Glancing back in the review mirror, I made sure her small mirror was angled correctly, that her pacifier was tethered within reach for when she inevitably spit it out, and that…
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What If Mothers Just Said No?
What if mothers just said no? What if we decided not to be the ones to carry the heavy burden of the mental load for our families and society at large? What if we set down these invisible responsibilities that weigh us down? Before the weight of it all crushes us. What if we…
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My Darlings, I Delight in You
My Darlings, I hope you know, deep in your heart, how much I delight in you. I hope you see it. I hope you see past my tired eyes and my distracted mind. I hope you see the love and pride and joy that resides within those weary eyes. I hope you see how they…
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To the Momma Who is Trying Her Best
To the Momma who feels like she’s the only one who doesn’t have this motherhood thing figured out. You are not alone. To the Momma who wanders through the day mopping up messes and wondering what she has accomplished. You have purpose. To the Momma who spent years pursuing education and career goals, only to…
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The Hard Goodbye
Since deciding to make this latest move, I’ve realized that my excitement for this next chapter has been tempered with a twinge of sadness. I noticed that I was dragging my feet on preparing, and as I packed it was with heavy hands and a heavy heart. Even though we felt this move is the…
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On the Move Again
Question: What is more fun than moving twice in six months with two young kids? Answer: Anything. And yet, this is what our family is doing. Unpacked boxes still decorate the floor of our current house as the real decor remains un-hung. A short four months ago, we packed up our humble home and hauled…
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What Love Looks Like
On this day six years ago, on the bank of a lush green peninsula with the Tennessee River weaving its way around us, my (now) husband nervously dropped to one knee and asked me to marry him. My heart raced. Excited as I was about the expectation of this day, I was stunned in this…
The Small Wanders 