The Tattoo of Spring.
Her fingers are coarse from the dry winter air. She rubs them together absentmindedly; running the careful grooves of one finger whirl against another. She spreads her arms out wide to her side—her thin,...
Author: Jennifer
3 Tips: How to Deal with Sibling Jealousy When the New Baby Arrives.
Helping children adjust to a new baby. My daughter was four years old when her new sister arrived. Needless to say, she had a lot of adjusting to do, since she’d been the only...
Raising Girls with Healthy Body Images.
Author’s note: This was written and published to honor National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. I wet my hands in the bathroom sink. Her hair drips in fluid spirals as soon as I lightly pat...
Not Everything Needs to Be Published.
I’ve felt a little sorry for myself as a writer lately. I have grand ideas and vision, but I’m, essentially, in full-on mommy-mode; when writing does and should come second. This difficult balancing act...
How to Know Whether to Take a Day off from Exercise or Push through (and Rest Day Suggestions).
It took me many, many years to learn whether or not I need to take a day off from exercising—or push through. At one point in my life I ran a 13-mile loop every...
How to Give a Proper Timeout…to a Mommy.
I tell my daughter that I take “timeouts.” I do this because, in her own way, she understands what mommy needs. And timeouts aren’t for punishing—not really. They are for learning and growing as...
Throwing Away “I’m Sorry” & Teaching Empathy.
Teaching our kids empathy instead of meaningless “I’m sorries.” These days, it seems that I meet more and more narcissists. While I’m not a psychologist, it is commonly believed that a true narcissist doesn’t...
Date a Girl Who Likes to Shovel.
Date a girl who likes to shovel—she’s not afraid to dig deeply into life. She’s not afraid to get red and sweaty in a way that has nothing to do with sex, and while...
If I Promised Not to Hurt You.
If I promised not to hurt you, would you trust me forever? Or is human trust only meant to go so far? My love for you exceeds words, even though I believe I’m very...
Thank You for Letting Me Dream of You.
Thank you for letting me hold you. Thank you for letting me nestle my tired head into your warm chest. Thank you for letting me say, “I’m sorry.” I know we no longer speak...
