People start asking you very soon after having a child if you plan to have a second one. A harmless and understandable question, sure. But it always sends a shock through me. I know the socially appropriate way to respond, so I smile and give a lighthearted, “Maybe!” or “We’ll see!” Sometimes if I have the time…
The following poem was written by a friend of mine who attended a protest in Louisville, Kentucky yesterday. I have read it several times over, and each time I find something new in it to love, each time something hits a little differently. Thanks, Jas, for your beautiful words. Your bravery. Your insight. Your compassion,…
I sat in the lobby waiting to hear my name. Mismatched clothes, slippers for shoes, bloated and empty belly resting on my striped thighs. I couldn’t look at the glowing women around me, I wondered what they might see in my face? Terror Exhaustion Apathy Sadness Counterfeit joy Envy Anger Confusion Physical pain Emotional pain…
In the way that you cry when you’re tired and lonely, I am reminded that I can do the same. In the way that you allow yourself to be held, comforted, and kissed by someone who loves you, I am reminded that I can do the same. In the way that you continue to eat…
I walked into the NICU, excited to see you and be near you I walked into the NICU, the room they told me was yours, and looked down at a beautiful baby, but something was wrong. I didn’t know if you were mine. They told me this was your room They said you were sleeping…
I’ve been thinking about our hearts How you listened to mine beating for months How I listened to yours beating for months How you felt the steady rhythm of mine creating a soft vibration against your forming body How I watched yours on a little black screen, smiling at each rhythmic rise and fall I’ve…
The weird thing about trauma exposure is that it can come back in unexpected, powerful ways. Even years after the trauma has occurred, and you have been mostly symptom-free, something can trigger a trauma response and you are nearly powerless to its might. Trauma affects the way our brains develop, how we behave, and how…
PHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH That is the sound of me blowing the dust off the ol’ blog. It has been over two years since I have written here, dayum! When typing in my blog address this afternoon, I wondered if I would have to log in again or if by some miracle it would still be auto logged-in.…
I love getting snail mail so I was pleasantly surprised to get home from work today and see a handwritten letter addressed to me. After a quick glimpse at the return address with no recognition, I wondered what baby shower, bridal shower, or engagement party invitation lay awaiting inside. Turns out it was a little more important…
In the spirit of trying to post more, I felt particularly drawn to respond to today’s daily prompt: Elixir. An elixir is a magical potion, and the more people I can share my own magical potion with the better! A few years ago when I had strep throat, I wasn’t able to take any “western medicine” because of my history…
Last week I entered a new decade. Turning thirty wasn’t as traumatic as I had always imagined it would be. In fact, it felt like a natural transition– I was ready to look back on my twenties with gratitude and gracefully step away from them. My twenties were fun, really fun! They were full of self-discovery, scuba…
Watch Jamila perform the poem in its entirety here
My sleepwalking stories these days have been few and far between. I still sleeptalk several times per week, but I don’t seem to be getting up and doing bizarre things as much. Last week, I did exclaim in my sleep, “I’m INFP, I’m INFP, I’m INFP, I’m INFP”, which I directly attribute to going on…
Isaac: (Gives me a long hug, sniffs my jacket) Um, where were you earlier today? Me: What? Isaac: Where did you go earlier today? You smell like a mix between a bowling alley and a Chinese restaurant Me: Oh, that’s my breath you’re smelling. I just ate a meat stick Isaac: No, you smelled like a Chinese…
This week I wrote a paper about racism that is revealed after natural disasters. While applicable to many natural disasters, I focused specifically on Hurricane Katrina and the aftermath of her havoc. I won’t bore you with the statistics, research methods, and mind numbing details, but here are the key points: A grassroots organization called Common Ground Collective (CG)…
