Reentry: A Love Poem
Last night I attended a poetry workshop on writing love poems– it’s focus was on writing love poems that aren’t grandiose, sappy, saccharine, etc. It was a fun conversation with some fellow women whose wordsmithing impressed and inspired me. I imagine I’ll keep playing with the piece I started during the workshop, but for now,…
A Love Letter to My Eczema
Today’s poem was inspired by finding an event in my calendar that apparently one year ago me decided to leave for future me. It was a heads up that the weather is probably changing which means my skin is probably pissed, or will be soon. It gave some love, reassurance, and reminders of how to…
Explaining Your Religion in Triage
These days, I typically only get asked about my religious beliefs when I’m at my yearly physical, or in triage at the hospital. Which is to say, it’s not super common. Still, I always chuckle to myself when they ask. Is it in case I die here today? So they’ll know which type of spiritual…
In Service of Children, Mine and Yours
I tend to this guiltThat gnaws at my heelsNo matter the shoes I wearOr the role I play that day I carry this guiltLike a babyToo heavy for its sling When I choose to spend my daysIn the service of children Who aren’t you And I hear myself tell other parentsHow quality time with their children Is…
Play
Play. The practice of it oftentimes abandoned past childhoodBut its importance steadfast Do adults forget how to play?Or do we convince ourselvesIt’s no longer somethingWe need, want, or have time for Playing for children looks likeImagination and make believeBeing immersed in nature or artPlay is being in flow For children, play is being both light…
Finding the Joy
Life is tiring right now. It’s good, but tiring. That quote that says, “The days are long, but the years are short”, when referencing child rearing, feels especially true right now. It seems so odd that we have these lives where we can do and experience so many incredible things– yet we devote most of…
Formula
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…
The Life Pro Tip (LPT) Series on The Other Courtney
I’m excited to share a new series that I’ll post intermittently on my blog called “Life Pro Tip.” I obviously didn’t create this term, in fact on Reddit, the Life Pro Tip subreddit has around 20,000 people who follow it and enjoy sharing/reading Life Pro Tips. So, what is a LPT? It’s an idea, way…
Vow Renewal
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…
The Other Courtney 