Category Archives: Parenting

In the Spirit

“You have been my friend,” replied Charlotte. “That in itself is a tremendous thing. I wove my webs for you because I liked you. After all, what’s a life, anyway? We’re born, we live a little while, we die. A spider’s life can’t help being something of a mess, with all this trapping and eating flies. By helping you, perhaps I was trying to lift up my life a trifle. Heaven knows anyone’s life can stand a little of that.”
—Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

Scarlett and I read Charlotte’s Web together over the course of a few days. I wasn’t sure she’d be into it, but she loved the story of Wilbur, the runty baby pig who was rescued and bottle-fed by a little farm girl, and how he then met a spider who became his best friend and saved his life.

Scarlett was also very interested towards the end of the book, when I burst into tears while reading about Charlotte’s death. She curled up in my lap when it was over, and I could see her trying to squeeze out a few tears, too. But then she said, “I want to go look at the Christmas presents.” Read More>

|Categories: Life, Parenting, Relationships | Tags: , , | Permalink

The Good, The Bad, and Everything Else

Some days, when I sit down to write this blog, I struggle with what tone to convey. I want it to be realistic, but not too negative. Optimistic, but not phony. Ultimately, I want to make sure that what I say is true. But throughout any given day, there are so many truths, and they all have moods that go along with them.

I now have to use a fist to punch the microwave open. I rarely bother doing this, but in a pinch, it does work. My fingers get tired of typing, and today I tried using my knuckles instead (not recommended.) I sometimes open the refrigerator, see what I want, and know that there is absolutely no way I can get it.

That’s all on the downer side of things. It’s true that I am feeling more paralyzed lately. It’s a word I used to use figuratively—unable to make a decision, rooted to one spot in fear. Now, it’s really quite literal. My arms are heavy, and lifting them requires an energy that I once reserved for gym visits or moving day. Read More>

|Categories: Life, Meditation, Parenting, Progression | Tags: , | Permalink

Into the Vile

Scarlett had soccer on Sunday afternoon. She and Rob took a trip to a sporting goods store in advance, so she was all decked out in Adidas, including an A.C. Milan jersey. This was fitting, because her soccer class was organized through her preschool, and taught entirely in Italian. It was also fitting because the shirt fit. Haha! #winningatpuns

Sorry about that. I’m not editing it out, though.

With the epic rain we’ve had here in California this month (the phrase “Storm of the Decade” was bandied about last week), the soccer fields were still wet, and extremely messy. I basically ignored this fact, and cruised through the grass in my chair to join the other parents on the sidelines. It was Scarlett’s first class, and I wanted to be right there, even if it did turn me into the abominable mud monster. Read More>

|Categories: Life, Parenting | Tags: , , , | Permalink