Category Archives: Motherhood

May
4
2015

The Juggler

It was one of those mornings where I had to make a few appointments.
I had my calendar and my post-it pad beside me to write down the dates and times.
My annual eye exam was first on the list with the appointment being made with ease.
The other call was to our car insurance company to repair a crack in my windshield.

It is a small crack that literally happened while my car was parked.
It happened in February when the snow and ice were still on the ground.
I parked next to a building and when I came out, the small crack was there.
Apparently some ice fell from the roof above and landed on my car.

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Apr
28
2015

Nest Building

This is the season of nests.
Even though the birds think they are hiding them, their nests can still be seen.
The nests are found as the birds fly back and forth.
It is not difficult to follow their path and know what is tucked among the branches.

I have old rusty gates scattered here and there in my garden.
On those gates hang small birdhouses.
Each year, I am delighted when a particular bird chooses one of those little houses.
I love to watch the nest building process from my dining room window.

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Apr
21
2015

A Unique Connection

Posted in Motherhood | 2 Comments

My oldest daughter sent me a link to a video.
She knew that I would like it.
She also knew that I would cry.
She knew that I would see my children and myself in the video.

She was right.
She was right about everything.
I was amazed at how deeply the video touched my heart.
I was encouraged by its profound truth.

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Apr
15
2015

The Most Important Job

Posted in Motherhood | 6 Comments

I heard a commercial on news radio this morning that made me sad.
It was a commercial encouraging others to nominate women of influence.
You were to nominate women who have businesses that impact the community.
Women who make a difference in the lives of others through their careers.

A list of possibilities was given at the end of the commercial.
Everything you could possibly think of was mentioned.
Everything except one very important position.
Motherhood was not on the list.

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Mar
13
2015

A Parent’s Job

I was in the infant department buying two baby gifts.
Two precious little girls were born days apart.
One little baby was born to the daughter of my dear friend.
My friend is now a grandmother; and we who love her, celebrate with her.

It is so much fun to be in the baby department.
It brings back memories of when I was buying clothes for my children.
With five adult children, it is difficult to ever imagine they were that small.
But they were.

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Feb
9
2015

Guarding Childhood

Posted in Motherhood | 2 Comments

I will never forget the day I went into the party store.
It is not a store that I frequently visit, but I was looking for a particular item.
It was late fall and Halloween decorations were everywhere.
I happened to walk into the store with a mother and her little boy in front of me.

I have often heard it said that people do not look up.
We look around, we look back, but up is not a direction we turn very often.
This little boy looked up.
All he saw was a ghoulish figure hovering above him.

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Feb
6
2015

Pencil Plans

It is scheduled right in the middle of winter, right when you need it most.
It is a touch of spring when the air is frigid and the snow is on the ground.
It coaxes the next season to come, teasing those who visit with the promise of spring.
The Philadelphia Flower Show will open at the end of the month.

I have never visited the Flower Show.
I was supposed to go years ago, when a day had been on the calendar for a month.
The morning I was supposed to go to the Flower Show was a typical mom morning.
Four children went to school but the littlest one woke up feverish and sick.

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Feb
5
2015

A Journal At My Door

Posted in Bible, Motherhood | 2 Comments

If you took an informal poll, many would admit to having one.
Colors would vary.
Places to hide it would be different for each person.
Whether it was private or accessible would be a personal preference.

Me, the writer and me, the lover of words had a hard time keeping one.
I was given quite a few.
Some had locks with a small key that was usually attached with a satin ribbon.
The words on the front would always be the same: My Diary.

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Feb
4
2015

Selective Amnesia

Posted in Motherhood | 4 Comments

It is always during the first month of the year I remember.
I remember that night twenty-seven years ago.
A cold winter night that was supposed to be like any other.
Except it wasn’t.

I had two little girls, active toddlers who were tired of being cooped up inside.
There were books to read and blanket forts to make.
There were endless, imaginary kitchen concoctions to feast on.
There was an air of playfulness that was expected but not felt.

Something was wrong.

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Feb
3
2015

No-Man’s Land

Posted in Motherhood | 2 Comments

Talk to any mother and she will have her own discipline stories.
She will tell you what works for her children and what is not effective at all.
If you put the various methods together, they would make a very interesting book.
However, not necessarily an effective one, since every child and every family is different.

It is good for mothers to share stories.
It is good to hear you are not alone as you raise the next generation.
It is good to sift through the stories you hear, incorporating some into your own life.
Tossing away others that would simply not work for your child.

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