I had to stop breastfeeding when the baby was 5 weeks oldI say had to, but really, it was a choiceThat’s what motherhood is– choice after choice after choiceHow will I mother in this moment?How will I respond to the things that are out of my control today? I had to decided to stop breastfeeding…
An excerpt from the book I’m working on- prose and essays on motherhood. The first timeA short service On a crisp spring dayStars in our eyesPromises on our lipsI doAnd I do, too The second timeA 3-day ceremonySoundtracked by tears and breaths In perfect synchronyWorking to bring our creationEarthside and into our arms The third time Standing in…
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…
As my husband and I approach our seventh year together and our second wedding anniversary, we are fielding more and more “when will the babies come?” questions from friends and family. They have led to a few late night, not-so-serious baby discussions between us, but in all honesty, we are still really enjoying living child-free.…
A few months ago, my mom told me about a new laundry detergent that she had discovered called Molly’s Suds. It was “all natural with no harmful chemicals” she excitedly told me. The words “all natural” make me very cautious these days. I have discovered that when a cleaning product calls itself “all natural” it…
Here are my reasons: 1. Smiling in your sleep– Babies smile in their sleep. I can only imagine that they dream of rolling fields of lactating breasts and blankets that never turn cold. Many adults grind their teeth in their sleep due to stress from work, finances, and relationships. Grinding leads to TMJ, cracked fillings…
The Other Courtney 