This is what people say the most after meeting my infant daughter: “She’s so attentive!” “Such eye contact!” “She’s very aware!” “She’s looking at me so intensely!” I remember the first time Glorya Joy looked at me. Really looked at me.
Read More
All articles filed in Raising Children
Sun Jesus
“Mama, can I see Jesus on your arm?” Asha asked me as she turned my arm around to see the sun with a soft, smiling face just below my elbow. Pausing for a second, I was stunned, for I was not expecting such a powerful question. This tender moment happened candidly for the first time…
Read More
Messy But Beautiful
When my husband told me that our sixteen year old had come out to him as transgender, I laughed. I thought it was some weird joke I didn’t understand. John may as well have said Sam was on a spaceship headed toward Jupiter. I was shocked and confused; it made no sense to me. “Bring…
Read More
Awards Day
The hand of a distinguished celebrity judge moves through the air in slow motion. The contestant’s eyes widen and mouth drops open in disbelief, in hope. Contact is made with a large round button, rocketing golden confetti up. It gently rains back down in real time, showering the chosen one in worth and honor. Often…
Read More
Stage Four Racism and the Truth about Love
He loves me between his smiles and contagious giggles. The brown guy in front of me wrinkles his nose and anger passes through his eyes, the anger he’s absorbed all day. I squeeze his arm. He flinches. How did I forget he cannot bear the gentle touch I offer after a long day? I’ve encouraged…
Read More
The Tweens You Don’t Hear About
I was called a tween this week: the in-between years of parenting your own kids while taking care of your own parents. It sucks every bit as much as middle school. The night before, we received a phone call at 2am. It was not the first time. My mother-in-law woke disoriented, fearful of the man…
Read More
Familiar
This season feels familiar. I find myself repeating these words often. When this happens, I have learned to take notice. It is the start of a new school year. The four children who live at home range in age from 15-10. These are my (not so) littles who are now the ages of the “bigs”…
Read More
A Daughter’s Perspective on Love
I’ve been going through boxes of old pictures, something I’ve been putting off until ‘someday’ for many years, determined to gather enough for each of our kids to have their own collection of childhood photos. It feels like another step in the transition from our family all living under one roof to being empty-nesters.
Read More
Things Must End
Andrew and Amanda had clear instructions of how to get themselves off to school without me. Annie and I were off in the early morning Denver traffic with the May sunshine in our eyes.
Read More