Our newly turned 7 year old was saying shit on the playground at school, and by “shit” I don’t mean stuff; I mean, he actually yelled the word “shit” from the top of a snowbank on the playground, prompting me to write my first crazy mom email as a public school teacher in the same… Continue reading When Your Own Kid Says Shit at School
Dear Barron, Kiddo, in many ways, it must be hard to be you right now. People probably expect you to be older than your ten years. Your dad just became President of the United States, which complicates every part of your life. Your mom is taking heat for wanting to let you finish the year… Continue reading An Open Letter to Barron Trump
This weekend in the lodge I smiled at a mom holding her little boy, probably 2 or 3 based on his tiny ski boots, sound asleep in her arms. I winked that knowing glance of having passed many a nap here at Loon Mountain, our baby, now 5 year old Greta, able to ski… Continue reading For the Love of Ski School
Dear President and Mrs. Obama, Last night you said goodbye to the nation, and I want you to know I will miss you. You don’t know me, but I met you in my head on TV the year you spoke at the Democratic Convention in 2004. You moved my soul when you spoke; your ability… Continue reading My Wagon is Hitched, President and Mrs. Obama: Thank you!
Dear John, I’ve changed your name to protect your interests in case you were not ready for the entire world to know something so private and difficult to discuss even at home. Thank you for sharing with me, a woman you just met while visiting your school as a guest author. The time you spent… Continue reading A Different Kind of ‘Dear John’ Letter
‘Twas the Sunday before Christmas and all through the house, sugar cookie crumbs left all over the floor for our resident mouse. Christmas crafts were done and hung to dry by the chimney with care, with the hope that Auntie Allison, Uncle Brian, Auntie Holly, and Uncle Greg soon would be there. But there… Continue reading The Sound of Music in “Our Fa-vor-ite Things”
Dear Ellen and Portia, I hope this letter reaches you–somehow–some way– before Christmas. Last year this time, we debated about sending a copy of my book, True North, to you via Santa at the North Pole; however, my five year old said, “Mom, if you want this to go to Ellen, just send it to her… Continue reading My Christmas Letter to #EllenDeGeneres
Sigh. Sigh. Sigh. Deep breath. Deep breath. Deep breath. Count to 10. Count to 100. Listen to my kids count to 100 by 5s, 10s, and 1s and try not to yell at them. Try not to yell. I am not a yeller, yet I’ve turned into a yeller. People tell me I’m amazing. They… Continue reading I’m Taking a Break from Being Amazing
My grandmother ROCKED Thanksgiving, as do her children and my dad’s side of the family– equally talented across the board. Last night, Geoff and I could have been a Norman Rockwell painting for about 12 minutes, baking pies and prepping side dishes for today while listening to Christmas music. Kids were asleep after we had… Continue reading Thanksgiving Rolls in Heaven
Last week at the post office, Carver filled out a Selective Service card for the military without my noticing. But he proudly tucked the card with his name filled in the boxes and hid beneath his shirt until we got home. “Mom,” he exclaimed, “I’m going into the Army.” Suddenly, he was 18 or 22… Continue reading Thinking of Children and Veterans this Veterans’ Day…
