Parent – Every Grace and Blessing

A Tale of Two Girls

Once upon a time there was a little girl who lived in a beautiful, four-floor home with her mother, her grandmother, her grandfather and her dog, Skipper. The little girl grew up surrounded by love and attention. Her home was the safest place she could think of, and though loved reading and learning at school,ContinueContinue reading “A Tale of Two Girls”

The Happy

This has been a rough few months for our family. My father-in-law has been struggling with some heart issues. It frustrated him, it frightened us, and it led to about three to five different hospitalizations since August. He has suffered the most and yet been in the best spirits; I’ve been akin to a sulky teenager,ContinueContinue reading “The Happy”

On Books and Babies

This month, thirteen years ago, was a season of terror. No, not Halloween. Pregnancy. I was in the final month of my first full-term pregnancy and I was waiting for disaster. There was no way, I thought, this was going to be okay. A long string of English literature classes in college and graduate schoolContinueContinue reading “On Books and Babies”

Fear, Itself

This morning as I was walking into the mall I saw the upper windows over the entrance covered, billboard style, with an enormous ad for Busch Gardens’ Howl-o-Scream, a Halloween staple in Tampa. I reflexly reached down next to me to steer Boo away from the view, but as she is now 11 and in middleContinueContinue reading “Fear, Itself”

The Difference

Today my soon-to-be-nine-year-old daughter, Critter, asked me in the car if I thought she was a good artist. I replied yes, because I honestly think she has far more artistic talent in her hands than I have in my whole body. Her immediate reaction was, “You’re just saying that because you’re my mom.” I immediatelyContinueContinue reading “The Difference”

I Want to See You be Brave . . .

My eldest daughter, Boo, just started voice lessons with Mrs. A., who ten years ago (though it seems like only yesterday) led our mommy and me sing-and-play Kindermusik classes. My memories of those days are hazy, lost in a postpartum fog evolutionarily designed to make me forget the sleep deprivation, delivery recovery, and breastfeeding discomfort.ContinueContinue reading “I Want to See You be Brave . . .”

I’m not sorry?

It’s been a long time since I posted, and since I have more followers than I ever thought I’d have I felt that I should start this newest blog entry with an apology. The problem is that I’m not supposed to do that anymore. Or something. According to a new Pantene ShineStrong video which canContinueContinue reading “I’m not sorry?”

Channeling my Inner Evil Stepmother

I went back to teaching this semester, and the conversations I had with my students were so rich and enlightening I wish I recorded and posted them all here. Instead I barely wrote at all because I was swimming so deeply in all of their wonderful ideas I had little time to write down anyContinueContinue reading “Channeling my Inner Evil Stepmother”

Warts and All

Awhile ago I received a note, via email, from a friend. I wanted to post it to Facebook, but realized it was way too long for that. Then, as I started typing it I realized I wanted to say more stuff about it. And thus this post was born. I’ll just copy tbe quote hereContinueContinue reading “Warts and All”

Camping

Yesterday I embarked on my first ever camping trip. I took a Girl Scout Basic Outdoor Leadership Training course with three incredibly dear friends who were kind enough to not only accompany me on this outing but put up with my crap throughout the course. My crap included: 1. hating being outside 2. being afraidContinueContinue reading “Camping”