I was standing on the sidelines, technically behind the sidelines, tucked into a grove of pine trees. Anywhere else I stood in the expanse of this historical mansion, and I’d end up in the background of somebody’s photos. Traditionally, prom is an event for only juniors and seniors, but if the theatre community likes a […]
We are at the life stage where the boys come home late at night after a shift at work or a musical theater rehearsal, and then they scrounge the cupboards for evening snacks like Ramen or quesadillas. There is much talk most mornings about the rogue dishes that show up long after the kitchen is […]
I don't know if I've mentioned this recently, but Tuck is in tenth grade. He has far surpassed my height, he drives me all over town, and he bakes dinner at least once a week. He is taking a child development class this semester, and he has been learning and talking about words like breastfeeding, […]
Somehow, I have become the mom sitting by the mirrors outside the men's dressing room, while the sons try on jackets, pants, shirts, and vests to wear to Homecoming. More importantly, these guys have become tall enough, broad enough, and particular enough to wear clothes that require a tape measure for specificity and fit. (We […]
If she tells you she wishes her car got better gas mileage, that doesn't mean she wishes she'd never learned to drive. If she tells you she didn't like the middle of the book, that doesn't mean it wasn't worth reading. If she tells you she doesn't love her job, that doesn't mean she won't […]
"Mom, I asked her to be my girlfriend. But don't worry - I talked to her dad already." "You asked her dad?" Peter and I exchanged silent glances, since "asking the dad" isn't something we had coached this young man to do. There are a few gifts born from my sons watching my own love […]
Maybe you've seen this story that's circulating on social media: "Years ago, anthropologist Margaret Mead was asked by a student what she considered to be the first sign of civilization in a culture. The student expected Mead to talk about fishhooks or clay pots or grinding stones. But no. Mead said that the first sign […]
Back when I was navigating the long days with little people, some researchers endeared themselves to me with a released study that indicated that stay-at-home parents have 30+ hours of leisure time each week. They implied there's no reason to complain about busyness or exhaustion, because really, most of it's leisure time. Back then, a […]
"Mom, did you know they make ranch dressing seasoning?" one son says. "I feel like she bought that already," says the other son. "No, not the dressing mix. It's in a shaker. Like parmesan cheese," says one son. "I had a bad experience with ranch dressing," says the other son. "What was it?" "Uncle Rob […]
I wanted to send this story to you on Easter morning or the night before, but things got away from me, what with the glazed ham and the hashbrown potatoes and the early service and hosting all the family and dyeing of inappropriate eggs. (I distinctly recall saying nobody was allowed to draw penises on […]
It's been more than a decade since this Good Friday situation, the day Baby Tyler locked Toddler Tucker and me in a second story bedroom for an hour and a half, and our rescue involved three strangers, three firemen, a fire truck, three police officers, several calls to 9-1-1, and a very brave neighbor. An […]
Looking through some old journals tonight, I found this dialogue from four-year-old Tucker: "Mommy, let's make a train. Tyler will be the engine and I'll be the caboose. You be the track." I wrote: That feels like the very definition of motherhood. All my love to of you "train tracks" out there. I raise […]
A few years ago, I kept things lively with a special treat for the boys each day of spring break. One day, we visited the arcade with a handful of quarters for their glorious spending pleasure. Tuck spent his coins on experiences: virtual motorcycle rides and shooting galleries. Tyler spent his coins and best efforts […]
My son witnessed an assault against a young woman in his P.E. Class. A situation of a young man wielding a hockey stick where it should never, ever go. The school administration handled it well, which is why I feel okay writing about it here. It doesn't need to be rehashed or revisited, but my […]
The good news is they’re a hit with all the men at my house. Happy Merry Making. May your nipples look prettier than mine.
Timehop is a lovely invention of an app. I love how it gently knocks on the door of my mind and says, "Would you like to know what you were doing on this very day for the last few years? Thanks to your contributions to the interwebs and social medias, we've documented it for you." […]
Tyler came over to the fence during his third baseball game of the afternoon. He motioned to me. "Mom, after this game, I'm calling a family meeting." "You are?" "Yes." "What is it about?" "I'll tell you at the meeting. I'm just letting you know: it's happening." He wasn't kidding. At the end of the […]
Just when I thought I knew my role as Baseball Mom, my boys changed their position on the field. They're umpires now. Baseball officials. They make the calls for Little League Games - the littlest of the leagues. Little tiny doll-size players who are eye level with Tucker's belt buckle. A catcher so small and so […]
Scrolling through the photos on my iPhone, Tyler saw a candid picture of him and me at my 40th birthday party. He was shocked. "Mom, look this picture. What happened? I look so grown up." Yes, my love. So grown up. The line of your jaw. The crack in your voice. The breadth of your […]
Creature of wonder, man-child of mine. You look like a puzzling and impossible blend of genetics, of his eyebrows and her nose, a mix of the boy who you have always been and the man you are becoming. You look like the preschooler who lined up his blueberries around the rim of the breakfast plate, […]
