I cannot. I look at this article a few of my friends have shared in horror and my lady biz yells at me, “RUN—DON’T WALK—YOUR EYEBALLS AWAY FROM THAT MADNESS.” A few things came to mind when my brain attempted to process the concept of using sponges for periods. I’d like to share them […]
The Value of a Quarter
Summer break was barely a couple weeks along, but she had been begging for permission to run a lemonade stand since the bell rang on the last day of school. I agreed to Saturday afternoon, if it was sunny—not stifling—out. The day came and I followed through on my promise, despite not really being up for the labor, […]
The Two Words I Say to My Kids Every Day
It was a cranky morning. I hustled my kids out of bed, into breakfast, into clean clothes, into backpacks, into the car, the whole while on a diatribe of epic proportions about not listening, being late, how they’re old enough to understand what’s expected of them. Blah blah blah. Nag nag nag. I was sick […]
Her Favorite Thing About Hand-Me-Downs
I’ve always seen hand-me-downs as a practical solution. Older kids are done with clothes. Younger kids are about to get bigger and will need new clothes. When my son is ready for the next size up, I pack everything that he has outgrown and bring it to his younger twin cousins the next time I […]
The Treasures They Hold
Most parents spend their days collecting moments. Like multi-tasking beach combers, we keep an eye on the waves crashing towards us as we reach down to grab big, rippled clam shells in perfect form; bits of bleached coral; rare folds of smooth green sea glass; tiny delicate pink shells the size of our fingernails. We […]
A Letter to My Daughter Who I Believe In
Dear Daughter, When we bought our house I was too tired to use tools or do math, so I hired a baby-proofer to run through and make it less likely to give me heart attacks as you and your brother explored its sharp nooks and dangerous crannies. Just to be extra safe, the cabinets under […]
54 Things To Do Before Having Kids
I don’t know whether you’ve ever heard this before, but parenthood changes a few things about your life. Not, like, everything. I mean, you’re still human beings who breathe and stuff after you have some offspring. But preeeetty much everything else changes—at least for a while. As a card-carrying member of the Yep, I Procreated […]
The Thing About Loss
I find I have a much harder time dealing with a loved one’s loss than a loss of my own. When the loss is mine, I can own it, mourn it, weep, recover. When the loss—or greater loss—is that of someone I love, I can barely breathe due to the crushing longing to swallow her […]
A Calm, Reasoned Argument For and Against Eating Your Cute Fat Baby
The following is based on an actual conversation about eating babies. Don’t act like you haven’t had one of those. Jeff has questions. I have facts. Let’s see where this goes—I’ll let him start. JEFF: Seriously, what the hell is it with you people and eating babies? Look, I like eating and I like kids. […]
Maple Brown Sugar Peach Cobbler
Yes, I’m aware that this is not a recipe blog. But I love dessert. And baking. And making up my own recipes. You’re welcome. Sometimes when I get a headache, I like to bake something sweet and hearty for myself. This weekend was full of icky head pain, and I happened to have some peaches […]