Author Archives:
Against Mother’s Day
There’s brunch, a carnation corsage at church, a day’s reprieve from doing the dishes, construction paper cards of tempera handprints, and maybe a Groupon massage, or a new scarf, or your very own fishing rod. All of it— even if distinctly cliché and eleventh-hour— from dimpled and striving hands, genuinely given. Researchers (who thought to (…) MORE »
The Book of Job
“Fine. No books tonight, Sören. I love you. Good night.” Sören scrunches his sandy eyebrows and puckers his lips. With his overgrown, homemade haircut he looks like a Beatle with some serious indigestion. “Not fair!” My persecuted rock star has spent the last year rehearsing his intonation, frustration, connotation, and implication on the frets of a single (…) MORE »
Awakening
There were the “Well, I think…” years. Then came, “I was just reading this book….” After graduate school and before children came the era of, “I was listening to NPR and….” Now, my contributions to the few adult conversations I manage to have begin with, “My counselor and I were just talking about….” I’m too (…) MORE »
Parenting/Self-Help
Okay. I admit to reading a parenting book with the word “magic” in the title. It was purple. The cover had one of those cartoon moms with a cartoon toddler on her hip wound together in a phone cord. The cartoon preschooler in the background was brushing the cat with a lollipop. I was embarrassed (…) MORE »
Mommy Fight Club
It’s a makeshift ring. The match-up is uneven but intense, becoming a barnburner. In Corner 1: “Mama” Schmidt—5’1,” 100#– a four-year veteran of the club. In Corner 2: “Little G” Schmidt—17# 11 oz., 27”—an unmistakable natural. The bell rings. Mama begins to sway, slowly, steady as a cobra, experience coaching that stillness is death. Little (…) MORE »
After the Miscarriage
They say holidays are hard times for those who’ve lost loved ones. I’m 33, happily married, and we still visit my grandparents’ homes on Christmas day. Death has not been a big part of my life. But, two years ago, I miscarried on Christmas Day. The uncles, aunts, cousins and vibrant grandparents sat around the (…) MORE »
