I watched a video the other day of a kangaroo, and the baby she had just given birth to. It looked like science fiction, or a cartoon plot imagined and developed by a first-grader. This massive kangaroo with her shoulder muscles bulging, her tail dense and capable of destruction. Legs for days. This kangaroo gave…
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…
I’ve let myself go To bed earlier than ever beforeTo the gymOnly to sit in the parking lot with a coffeeAnd a sigh I’ve let myself go Back to workForward into a new realityBoldly into each dayEven when I’d rather stayIn bed I’ve let myself go To the park when it’s rainingTo the merry-go-round that’s…
For Renee, Charlotte, Christina, and Katy What happens to a motherWhen the heart she grew for youSuddenly has to make room For two What happens to a motherWho once spent her daysPlayingTeachingCuddlingDancingBribingLaughingExplainingExploring Is now married to the couch, bed, or kitchen floorReally anywhere the newest and most helpless childNeeds her more What happens to a motherWho…
Millions of prayers whisperedAs parents look down on their young A full lifeA future wifeHealth, wealth, and safety These words are prayers but more like pleasA dealA demandA need We dream of hopes for those tiny toesAnd wishes for that grinBut what if all we hope for them is already within? I pray for self-acceptance,…
If we don’t think it’s important to teach our children that our needs as a parent and person matter, we are incidentally teaching our children that someday, their cups won’t matter either. We are teaching them how to be a martyr. That their life, wellbeing, and happiness is dictated by others and they don’t have a say in the matter.
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.…
Dear Mom, There was a photo taken at my wedding a few months ago (remember that big, insanely expensive party?) that I think sums up the kind of mom you are. It was a candid photo, I don’t think either of us knew the photographer was snapping away. I was getting my hair done and…
Today I discovered a tumblr blog called Reasons My Son is Crying. It is one of the funniest blogs I’ve ever seen and I can’t decide if it makes me want to have kids more (just so I can copycat his blog) or go get spayed immediately. If you don’t think kids crying is funny,…
The Other Courtney 