A Blessing for a Pandemic
May the quiet usher in space, May the space give way to attention, May the attention allow for reflection. And, may the reflection bring about gratitude. May the fear travel aside comfort, May the comfort be followed by assurance, May the assurance give way to strength, And, may strength birth hope. May this pause help to simplify, May the simplicity reflect your deepest sincerity, May sincerity center your core, And, may this core guide you in the days to come. “I like it, Mom.” “Thanks, Babe!”
Breaking & Baking Bread
Well, the first week of stay-at-home and social distancing, Addy and I survived. In fact, it was more than survival. We thrived and had lots of fun together. Homeschooling for 1 week was a success! I’ll check in again after 3 months of it. I might have a different sentiment. But for now, I am on board and truly grateful for our time together. Each day, we did a science experiment and posted it to Facebook. On the third day, we decide to use science for a very old tradition: baking bread. Normally, we are a wheat/whole grain bread family. So when we visit Grandma Ann, we feel gluttonous when…
A Playlist for International Women’s Day: Volume 2
Because music is such a powerful medium of expression and is something I absolutely make a part of my every day, I had to offer a second playlist for International Women's Day.
Women’s History Month: Celebrate through Simple Costumes and Timeless Portraits
I am not being original as I got this idea from another mom and daughter who did the same thing for Black History Month. I was inspired by the conversations some costumes and a camera could make. So Addy and I set out to capture who she believes are "strong and brave" women from history and fiction. For each day during the month of March, Addy is dressing up as a different strong and brave woman.
Lent: Why I Hate The Season But Need To Observe It Still
I love Advent. I hate Lent. Lent is dark. Advent is light. Lent is mourning. Advent is inviting. Lent is full of solitude. Advent is full expectations and hope. One is waiting for birth. The other is waiting for death. Then there is Good Friday. Yuck! In the past, I have started Lent with a visit to the pub. Right after Ash Wednesday, I walk to the nearest bar and order a simple Ale. There I take stock of where I’ve been and slowly accept a season that lays bare the doubt and pain that causes me to stumble. I am both Thomas and Peter as they question the promise…
When Stubborn Serves Her Well
She turned her cants into cans and her dreams into plans. Yogi Yamada, author I’ve used stubborn to describe my daughter before (actually many times). Ages 3 and 5 are better left in the past as they were her most stubborn stages. Whoever said “terrible twos” never made it to 3-years-old! Year 5 had so many major life changes and routines disrupted, I don’t hold that one against her. This last year at 6, in Kindergarten, she is fun to be around. Her capabilities are ever expanding. She is confident and more accepting of not having to be the center of universe. She is helpful and quick to offer her…
Fertility: A Story of Loss & Grief
At 41 years old, I am the mother of a 5-year-old. I came to motherhood a bit later than most do (in the Midwest at least). My first marriage was one without the thought of children. And it was only near its end that I realized I wanted very much to be a mom. I’d like to think my second marriage would have taken place regardless of my daughter’s conception, but it was definitely a big factor in taking another set of “till death do us part” vows. My fertility was never in question five years ago. In fact, my pregnancy came as a surprise, albite a delightful one! My…
Meet My Mom. We’re Talking About Losing A Child (She Lost Two)
Do you follow any blogs or podcasts? No. [laughs] I don’t even use Facebook. [laughs some more] What is your working definition of motherhood? I don’t know if I can make a definition. I don’t think about things like that. It’s different for everyone. For me, it was to help my children to become adults and doing what I could to help them with that. That has nothing to do with being a mother because dads do it too. Providing the basic things every day so that my kids could do other things. That might not be the right way. Did you always know you wanted to be a mom?…
Mirror, Mirror, On the Wall. Who’s This I See? Could It Be Me?
A big part of this blog is sharing my own personal parenting adventures. To do that, I’ll end up sharing a lot about my daughter too. She’s 5-years-old, loves the color purple, expresses herself best through dance and song, and always insists on checking out the massive Anaconda during our zoo visits (it’s been her favorite animal since age 2). Have you ever heard the phrase, “It’s a Minnie-Me”? When I became a mom, I really wasn’t expecting my own child to resemble myself. I’m not talking about physical attributes so much. Genetically, I knew my daughter would likely have reddish blond hair, blue eyes and my button nose. Her…
Getting Addy Outside: Why This Mom is Waging the Battle for Outdoor Play Everyday
I promised no soap boxes but this mom has a pretty strong opinion and I’m going to advocate for it here on Her First Role Model. To advocate for something, I need to be sure I am actually walking the talk. Breathing, let alone walking, in the arctic air that is part of Minnesota winters is hard. Perhaps what is harder is getting Addy jazzed about going outside (and in all honesty, I have to fake my own enthusiasm). Let me be honest, some days it like waging a battle. It is so much easier to just stay put. Yet when I make the effort, I never regret it. After…
