Category Archives: Family Life

Minted Artists Bring Color and Craft to Your Holidays

I am always looking for ways to impress my friends with something different. You have heard me say, however, that I have little imagination for gift giving; so when I find something special, I enjoy a little boasting, and the … Continue reading

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The Part of Parenting We Don’t Talk About

(This post was written for and originally published on WhatToExpect.com with the title “The Part of Parenting We’re Too Embarrassed to Talk About.”) Occasionally a post circulates the Internet in which the author describes witnessing a mother in the midst of a public … Continue reading

Posted in Family Life, It's All About Me, Mental health, New York City Living and Coping, Parenting Moments | Tagged , , , , , , | 34 Comments

When You Least Expect

I sat in the playground this afternoon while Henry and Molly played, reading a new parenting book. The methods and message of the book contrast greatly with how I have been parenting. And that is the point of my reading this … Continue reading

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A Heart With Legs

The other night, the girls discussed what God looks like. Ellie needed answers. Real ones. “He is whatever you imagine he looks like,” was the best I could do for her. Molly explained, calmly that he could look like a … Continue reading

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Robins

It is the eve of first grade. We are sitting in the hallway, on the runner; you are in pajamas, just bathed. We are discussing war. Because you have asked. You ask about shooting and cannons. The fort we visited … Continue reading

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Variations on a Theme: Summer

“Thank you my life long afternoon…” From Variation on a Theme by W.S. Merwin “Forgive me. I simply do not know what I am doing.” From Variations on a Theme by William Carlos Williams by Kenneth Koch Summer’s great, right? Ah, … Continue reading

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Have You Ever Been Happy?

I would not say I am a happy person. By nature or by defect, I am often depressed and moody. And it is by knowing the darkness that I can experience its absence with pure appreciation. There is an almost … Continue reading

Posted in Family Life, It's All About Me, Mental health, New York City Living and Coping, Parenting Moments, Poetry/fiction | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Vacation: Myths and Facts

I write to you from the picturesque village of Westhampton Beach. We are sharing a house with my family for the week of July 4th. Months ago, I began the search for a house we could share for our summer … Continue reading

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5 Lists for People Who Need to Feel Included Among People Who Have Lists

5 Things I Say Way Too Often Do you need to go pee pee? Do you need to go pee pee? Do you need to go pee pee? Enough with the fucking Band Aids already. Is that pee pee? 5 … Continue reading

Posted in Family Life, Humor, It's All About Me, New York City Living and Coping, Parenting Moments, Writing | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Dear Drinking Diaries…

I had the review of Drinking Diaries: Women Serve Their Stories Straight Up written for weeks. I was adding things–material from an interview with the editors, personal anecdotes, and some embarrassingly accurate knowledge of the Alcoholics Anonymous program. And then the … Continue reading

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