I’ve made some pretty stupid mistakes in my life. We all do. But the biggest mistake I’ve made by far was completely stepping out of the workforce once I had children. I am not going to get into one of those ridiculous “mommy war” debates about this because we all know that, by and large, … Continue reading The Biggest Mistake
When They’re Away
My kids are out of town with their dad right now. This is one of the side-effects of divorce: whether you want to or not, you will inevitably spend forced time away from your kids. I know of some parents who, post-divorce, don’t spend any time at all with their children, so the fact that … Continue reading When They’re Away
Opening Day
I was listening to NPR in the car this morning and learned that it’s Major League Baseball’s Opening Day. As I listened to the description of what’s going on at Safeco Field today, I was hit with a wave of nostalgia. Baseball has long been a part of my life. There was, and still is, … Continue reading Opening Day
A Sty of the Eye Sort
When I’m with my boyfriend, I like to look extra nice, especially if we’re going out. I try to be sure my hair and makeup look good, and I try to dress up a little bit. Imagine my horror when I ended up with a sty on my eye right before a much-anticipated weekend getaway … Continue reading A Sty of the Eye Sort
Angels
My 82-year-old father, who has a hard time walking, recently took a fall stepping off a curb back in my hometown. My mother, who has her own set of health issues, was waiting for him in the car and saw it happen. She and some very kind passersby helped him to his feet, and my … Continue reading Angels
The Chance
One late night, a drunk person told me some cold, hard truths about myself. Hearing about the less-than-desirable parts of yourself is rough. Most of us already know them but actually hearing them spoken out loud to you by another human being can be jarring. I had been resistant to hearing things like this in … Continue reading The Chance
Blog-iversary
A year ago today, I started this blog. I did it at the urging of several friends who had read some things I posted on Facebook over the years, and I love to write, so I took the plunge. I haven’t been super-regular with my posts, and I don’t have a “theme” like so many … Continue reading Blog-iversary
Snapshot of a Snow Day
School was canceled today. It snowed last night and was icy this morning, so the kids got a day off at home. Snow days are like crystalline gifts packed into the dreary rainbox that is winter in the Pacific Northwest. They are days to slow down and stay warm and enjoy the surprise of having … Continue reading Snapshot of a Snow Day
Ten Simple Self-care Tips
Self-care is something many people let slide. Many of us are prone to putting everyone else’s needs above our own. I can attest to the fact that if my kids need something, I will put their needs above mine 99% of the time. This wears on me. It makes me tired and irritable and quite … Continue reading Ten Simple Self-care Tips
Be Mine
When I was little, I loved Valentine’s Day. Giving and receiving those cute little cards, parties at school, and getting into my mom’s chocolates from my dad were fun things that marked those childhood years. Later, boyfriends would take me to dinner or bring me flowers. As an adult, I have felt what a … Continue reading Be Mine
