For most of us, today probably feels like an ordinary Monday. I'm doing my normal Monday routine - working from home, an extra load of laundry spinning as I type. But this Monday is a once-every-four-years event and for some reason this year I feel a particular urge to celebrate. Probably because Leap Day only arrives … Continue reading Happy Leap Day!
Tag: parenting
Create Beauty
Create Challenge Guest Post #2 - Mandi Diehl 2016 Wednesdays on this blog I will create a platform for friends to share their perspective on and experience of creativity. Today's guest post brought up a visceral memory for me: sneaking into my mom's bathroom, friend in tow, at about age 8. My mom's beauty cabinet beckoned with mystical glowing attraction. … Continue reading Create Beauty
Project Parenting
This morning I had a long-overdue cuppa tea with a friend. Of course we talked about our kids. My Teen is a few years ahead of hers, and so conversations in our home run a different course than she has to deal with quite yet – driving, drinking, dating, college, life goals and plans… My … Continue reading Project Parenting
The (Wounded) Artist
Create Challenge Guest Post #1 - woo hoo! I am so excited to devote Wednesdays on this blog to create a platform for friends wide and far, from every arena of my life, to share their perspective on and experience of creativity. And I am a big fan of today's guest post author, Paul Quinlivan, as I've been cheering … Continue reading The (Wounded) Artist
Panic Attack
I arrived home from work mid-afternoon and found Teen seated on his yoga ball hunched over a stack of papers in front of the family room computer, his study spot. I came up behind him and while I was yet two feet away, he abruptly stiffened and threw his hands in a “Don’t Shoot!” position. … Continue reading Panic Attack
Garage
“Mom, I’m okay, I wasn’t involved, but the police want you to come pick me up.” My heart races at this rush of words through the telephone. Teen and two other boys had permission to spend a summer night at another friend’s house. He has a game room and they wanted to play late into the night. Teen … Continue reading Garage
Rituals: Cation House
Writ large on the walls of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Pablo Neruda’s words strike a chord in my soul: “I spin on the circle of wave upon wave of the sea.” My life has felt like constant spinning, waves of joy and laughter, wash of chaos and drama, waves of peaceful beauty. My parents’ lives … Continue reading Rituals: Cation House
Meatless Monday – Veggie Chili
A dear friend offered to host the annual family-friendly Halloween/Trick-or-Treating party (meaning, as much fun for adults as kids, including Kitchen Dance Party long after we all should have been asleep) . This Halloween dealt us a new parenting milestone - Teen definitely had his own plans and Tween, willing to attend party and eat food, felt … Continue reading Meatless Monday – Veggie Chili
Meatless Monday – Bean & Sausage Stew
Fall consistently fills my plate with too much busy-ness. Transitioning kids and family back to school. Swamped at work as new programs kick off and we begin (never soon enough) holiday preparations. This year: add three weeks of Sick Kid, wading through piling-up school/homework and negotiations with teachers and administrators; countless hours of specialist appointments; and … Continue reading Meatless Monday – Bean & Sausage Stew
Help. Thanks. Wow.
Anne Lamott, or as others call her, St. Anne, claims that the Essential Prayers sound this simple: Help. Thanks. Wow. I have prayed many, many words over many, many years, but I’m not sure I could come up with a prayer, petition, or praise that wouldn’t fit those three categories: help, thanks, wow. Other than … Continue reading Help. Thanks. Wow.