I was out with a friend, riding along in her parents’ 1980ish Chevrolet Caprice. She turned into my neighborhood and parked along the edge of the driveway, the ol’ car straddling the road and a ... Read More about If You’re Scrounging for Joy
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Not Your Grandma’s Spring Cleaning
I spent my childhood visiting their home for a week every summer. After two days on the road, I crawled out of the way, way back of my family’s brown Oldsmobile station wagon and raced up the steps to ... Read More about Not Your Grandma’s Spring Cleaning
When You Wonder if the Divine is Even There
They told me in their diplomatic way that a shift was coming.They told me they needed more support to support him.They told me a quieter classroom would lessen the angst.They told me the meetings ... Read More about When You Wonder if the Divine is Even There
On Death Cleaning & Truth-telling
A couple months ago, I discovered a delightful library book nestled on a shelf among the other self-helpers, a genre that always extends a kind invitation but one I rarely accept. While I’d never ... Read More about On Death Cleaning & Truth-telling
What To Ask When Your Soul Needs Space
Spring has arrived here in Maryland, which means it’s time for this organizer to clean out, pare down, and spruce up, a practice I’ve committed to for years. Last week, I took an hour to purge our ... Read More about What To Ask When Your Soul Needs Space
A Question About Your Home
On a sunny Saturday afternoon, my mom dropped me off for my first solo babysitting gig. Though I knew a bit about this family from church, I had no idea what to expect in their home. As I stepped ... Read More about A Question About Your Home
![When I think back to the early months of motherhood, those bleary-eyed, overwhelming days (nights?) of colic and learning the needs of my first born, I can hardly believe we're here.
The toddler who traipsed around in Huggies and heels, singing made-up tunes and chatting with her hilarious imaginary friend, Lackey, outgrew my heels two years ago. And for the past year, I've been looking up to her--literally.
The longer I parent, the more I discover this gift to be one long, winding road of learning to let go. From the moment she said, "My do it, Mommy," I knew we had begun to leave the days of her tiny hand snuggled in mine.
And while I know these seasons of greater independence are part of her journey, I'm still surprised when they arrive with another milestone at my door, another invitation to release. Some days I ache to hold on just a little longer.
Happy 17th, Sissy.
You're a gift to our home, to your friends, to this aching world.
[ID: A white teen girl with brown hair in 2 braids, wearing black leggings and a black hoodie, is walking in the woods. Sun beams are coming through the trees as she walks away from the camera.]
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