Tag Archives: loss

Sisterly Love

This picture is reminiscent of a story I’ve been told, not a memory I’ve acquired. Yet my response is visceral, like smelling something that slams you back into the past.  My oldest two are 4.5 years older than baby Willow, the exact same age gap I had with my sister. My mom told me onceContinue reading “Sisterly Love”

A New Friend

I had a mommy play date today! I’ve only had a couple of those since becoming a mom, but I have yearned for them for much longer. In my twenties, I thought motherhood was lunch dates and park meet ups, and I couldn’t wait to bond with other mommies. But motherhood is far more complicatedContinue reading “A New Friend”

The Burden of the Living

After yesterday, I’ve walked around all day, thoughtful, heavy, broken. And I continue to think about how the burden of death remains among the living.  The pain of death is only felt by those who survive. I used to think that funerals and memorials were ridiculous because why spend time, money, and effort honoring someoneContinue reading “The Burden of the Living”

What Does Mother’s Day Bring Up for You?

Holidays can be very difficult because they remind us of who is gone but not forgotten. When I worked at a substance abuse treatment facility, I learned about how difficult family celebration days can be for many people. At that point in my life, I had yet to experience great loss, and it was astoundingContinue reading “What Does Mother’s Day Bring Up for You?”

The Good & the Bad of the Breastfeeding Movement

I think there are some wonderful aspects of the breastfeeding movement. I love that we are normalizing feeding in public. I whole heartedly believe we need to take a page out of Europe’s book about how beautiful the body is. In my experience, Americans tend to equate nudity almost exclusively with sexuality. This is simplyContinue reading “The Good & the Bad of the Breastfeeding Movement”

Raising Daughters Without My Sister

I saw a friend post on social media about a sister she had lost and how her daughter now shares this sister’s middle name. This relegated me to a sobbing mess at 5:45 in the morning. I too lost my sister; I too have a daughter with my sister’s middle name; I too raise daughtersContinue reading “Raising Daughters Without My Sister”