Our Philadelphia 76ers are one loss away from matching a record.
The record is the longest losing streak in NBA history.
I am not an avid sports fan, but I do pay attention to my hometown teams.
I cannot listen to the news on the radio without the constant reminder of their losses.

I am sure there are armchair basketball fans that have figured out the reasons why.
I am sure those same armchair fans think they could do a better job of coaching.
It is easy to point a finger from the sidelines.
It is easy to assign blame.

What about that old self-fulfilling prophecy?

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We had been married six years at the time.
We had two beautiful daughters and hoped for more children as well.
I remember the day I found out.
Another baby was on the way.

You always keep that news to yourself for a while.
It is the secret that only you and your husband know.
Three months, the safe number, the time when you can begin to share the news.

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There are five file boxes on a shelf in my closet.
Each one is a different color.
Each one has manila folders inside.
The boxes belong to each of my five children.

The Mom Box.

All through their school years, our refrigerator resembled an art gallery.
Magnets holding treasured artwork.
Magnetic letters to help the blossoming reader in the family.
Tests and papers the children were proud to display.

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I’m going to bed, the wife announced, though no one was in the room at the time.
She looked at the clock; it was 10:00.
How nice to be in bed a little earlier than usual.
The morning comes much too soon.

She turned off the lights in the family room.
Her husband was still in his office, so she didn’t go in to turn those lights off.
She turned off the spotlight that illuminates the driveway.
She turned off the other outside lights that are at each door.

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I watched them in the grocery store.
Wrinkled skin, posture less than straight, gait a little slower.
He was pushing the cart while she held on.

Do we need cereal? What is the kind I like that comes in the orange box?
She answered something unrecognizable and he kept talking and asking her questions.
She was taking a long time to process what he was asking her.

He didn’t mind; he seemed used to this.
He was the one doing the shopping.
She just came along; an outing.

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I went to my favorite country store over the weekend.
The store where I buy my favorite candles.
The store that has homespun fabric, country signs, and accents.
There it was.

I have had my eye on this for a couple of years now.
It has changed location in the store, but it is still there.
I walked up to look at it like I do every time.

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Being stuck inside during the winter months can test everyone’s patience.
When there are little children in the house, the need to run off energy is paramount.
Constructive ways to remain active is so important.
Creative ideas are necessary.

Often, when my children were young, our family room became a maze of forts.
Blankets strewn over chairs and benches made wonderful places to hide.
The best moments happened tucked away in the fort where no one could find you.
The best snacks were those that were had in that secret place.

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She stood there giving herself one last glance in the mirror.
At least she wasn’t in her pajamas.
She was dressed and ready to meet the day.
That was a huge accomplishment.

She had a hint of makeup and her hair got some extra attention.
She was wearing the new shirt her husband gave her and a bright colored scarf.
Not bad, she thought as she turned side to side before her reflection.
She tried to hold her stomach in but found it impossible to do since the baby.

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When you have five children growing up in a house, challenges are inevitable.
How do you carve out time with just one child at a time?
How do you make sure each child gets enough attention?
How do you ensure that each child’s uniqueness is celebrated?

When they were small, I purposed to do one small thing that proved to be invaluable.
I was always able to describe one important thing about each child that set them apart.
If I was introducing my children to someone that never met them, I was ready.

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Another winter storm has hit the Northeast.
During the day and through the night, twelve inches of snow has fallen.
The weather forecasters have told us that the snow will be around for a while.
The temperatures will remain well below freezing for the next week.

We are already plowed out.
The driveway is white with pressed down snow; bare in spots; teasing the eye.
Soon the snow will be a memory and spring will be on its coattails.

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