The month, and again the week, before he began 6th grade and a new school (Aug 2015), I asked Tween when we could get his hair cut. The first time, he shrugged, very pre-teen of him. The second time he responded, "I'm not. I already put it out on Instagram that I'm growing my hair … Continue reading An Uncommon Commitment
Tag: parenting
“Ain’t Ever Getting Older”
Except, he is. We went to Tahoe to celebrate his eighteenth birthday and brought five of his friends, including a girl, so they could attend a three-day music festival. This was Teen’s one and only request for his Big Deal B-day, and since December birthdays have clear drawbacks, we decided to make it happen. Originally, … Continue reading “Ain’t Ever Getting Older”
chronic…peace?
My sister has battled a chronic illness for 12.5 years, one that almost killed her at first and kept her in a medically-induced coma for most of the next five months. She has been in and out of countless doctors' offices and in the hospital too regularly. It's quite possible that, in any given year, she sees … Continue reading chronic…peace?
Ritual: Cation House
One of my favorite weeks of the year is coming right up: our annual trip to the Cation House. I originally wrote this post for my friend Cara Meredith's blog during her 2015 guest post series on rituals (please go check out her blog - great stuff happening over there!). I can't wait for another week of beach-y rest, … Continue reading Ritual: Cation House
Exercise Caution
In March I took up running. A life-long walker/hiker who thought she hated running, I had a surprisingly good time pushing myself to more frequent runs which became faster and longer runs (still not far or fast, but my only competition is myself.) It was fun until it wasn't. Gulping in deep outdoor fresh-air allergy-heavy breaths, I … Continue reading Exercise Caution
Sharing Creativity and Time
Some days I consider that I need a creative pastime that doesn't involve words or, specifically, my computer. And on those days I think of my friend Jen, who quietly, humbly, and persistently creates works of whimsical beauty with her hands. Jen is always good for a smile, a laugh, a story, a listening ear, and … Continue reading Sharing Creativity and Time
Thankful Thursday – Kickin’ the Door Shut & a Happy Dance!
By 12:20pm tomorrow, both our boys will be done with this school year. Hallelujah! This has been a particularly rough year for a variety of reasons. Junior year for Teen, filled to the brim with cultural stress even when our immediate little family wasn't topped to our own stress limit. Unfortunately for all of us, his school … Continue reading Thankful Thursday – Kickin’ the Door Shut & a Happy Dance!
Pride & Joy
Parents often speak of their children as their Pride and Joy. My mom has often said that she can’t be proud of her children. Not that she doesn’t have reason to feel pride, but that she won’t take credit for our accomplishments. I hope it's not disrespectful, on Mother's Day of all days, to say: … Continue reading Pride & Joy
The Most Amazing Gift
This Create Challenge began as a challenge to myself - and to all of us - to think outside the box on what it means to create, to be creators, to engage in creative activity. Because Life = creative activity. Because miracles abound in the mundane, the sacred infuses the secular, play does a happy … Continue reading The Most Amazing Gift
Don’t Give Up
Persistent defines Teen well, one of his stronger personality traits. We have snakes in our house because of Teen’s persistence. I said yes to geckos but NO to snakes. For years, Teen argued, researched, debated, cajoled, prayed – and believe me, we had long conversations about how God answers prayer: yes, no, or not now. … Continue reading Don’t Give Up