Dear sweet child of mine, You know how sometimes we will have a conversation, and I will talk and talk and talk about something? And you'll be thinking, Mom? We already know all of this. You've said all this before. Yup. This is going to be one … [Read more...] about What I Want My Kids to Know About Body Image
parenting
What We Said After The Election
A letter to my kids about the election Dear kids, Hey there, sweet children of mine. You’ve been following the news with us throughout this whole campaign cycle. We’ve had approximately eight million and six discussions with you about … [Read more...] about What We Said After The Election
It’s Not Just Anything, for The New Mystique
I did not realize, when my first daughter was born, that babies sometimes make terrible conversation starters. I don’t mean that babies are terrible at conversation (though they don’t have a lot to say about books or current events, to be honest). … [Read more...] about It’s Not Just Anything, for The New Mystique
The Thing About Time
When Eli was four, he used to play a game where he held his cupped hands in front of my face. “I have a present for you!” he would say, and then fling his arms wide. If he’d had a handful of confetti, it would have rained down over the entire … [Read more...] about The Thing About Time
The Five Things Kids Need From Parents
“You cut off the crusts?” He looks up at me like I am the first star in the evening sky, as though he said his star-light-star-bright rhyme and got his wish. “I has to tell you, you are an excellent mommy.” Oh dear, I think. Excellent? My mind … [Read more...] about The Five Things Kids Need From Parents
Why We Need Calm and Chaos, BOTH
There are moments. When you are a parent at home with small children, there are--every once in a while--glorious moments of calm, little oases of rest and beauty nestled within the chaos of life. Not often. But sometimes. Sometimes there … [Read more...] about Why We Need Calm and Chaos, BOTH
Dear Evelyn: A letter for your first birthday
Oh, Evelyn. You’re about to turn one. One year old. When you are grown, “one” will seem like barely an age—still a baby! But right now it feels huge. A whole year. You’re walking. You say “mama” and “dada” and “nigh nigh” and that’s about … [Read more...] about Dear Evelyn: A letter for your first birthday
One Small Thing You Can Do Today
I am practicing the spiritual discipline of sorting out the too-small clothes this week. Oh, friends, it’s killer. My babies were small, and now they’re bigger, and the big ones will never be little again—same song, next verse. You know. We … [Read more...] about One Small Thing You Can Do Today
How to Be a Parent
Parents DO a lot of things. Make the breakfast, make the lunch. Brush the hair, wash the clothes. Start the dishwasher. Listen to sounded-out words. Shoo the kids outside for fresh air. Call them back in for dinner. Sometimes I like to remind … [Read more...] about How to Be a Parent
How I’m Learning to See My Teenager
When you are the parent of a teenager, you can look right at them and see them – but at the same time, you see all the selves they’ve outgrown. You see it all at once, the teen self and the jump-roping self, the learning-to-read self and the … [Read more...] about How I’m Learning to See My Teenager
What Success REALLY Looks Like
In some circles, there are obvious markers of success. Things like graduations and job offers and promotions. The new car, those ballet flats from J.Crew. Finishing the manuscript, maybe. Sending your portfolio off to that gallery. If you are a … [Read more...] about What Success REALLY Looks Like
The Spiritual Discipline of Sorting Clothes
I am contemplating nudity. Not even the fun kind. I’m just considering how much less complicated life would be if I didn’t have to take care of everyone’s clothes. There’s the daily washing and drying and sorting, the making sure that … [Read more...] about The Spiritual Discipline of Sorting Clothes
