Expanded

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…

Praying for Keeps

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,…

On Mothers and Cups

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.

What Scares Me About Having Kids (It’s Not the Kids)

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.…

The Woman in the Background

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…

The Hilarity of Crying Babies

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 Marm Comes to Town

Last week my mom drove from Florida to North Carolina to help me knock out some wedding planning and to help my little sister move into a new apartment. Katy lives about 45 minutes from me so every day mom would bounce back and forth between our houses, helping both of us get our lives…

Weekly Photo Challenge: Two Subjects

Challenge: Two Subjects.  This “theme” is more of a composition challenge. Share a picture with two subjects!  A few months ago I photographed my sister-in-law and her family so they could have a non-cheesy Christmas card to send out to loved ones. There is nothing worse than receiving a Christmas card that looks like it could…

The Mothership Sails Another Year

Happy Birthday to my beautiful mother, or Mothership as my sisters and I call her. Christina will also refer to her as Mother Cruise Line, but that’s just cruel. I personally prefer Mothertanker or Marmatron3000. While a few of the above nicknames imply that my mom has lasers for eyes and robotic reinforced steel legs,…