The universe has a way of timing things just right. Just days ago I was sad about summer ending, about the closing of this magical time with my children, these three months dotted with highlights and plenty of tiny moments in between. And then they became monsters. Oh, wow, is it time for school. Something [...]
We are at the Basin Harbor Club in Vermont. This is a marvelous place for families, totally oriented towards kids. Tonight was a barbecue with all kinds of activities for the children – bouncy castle, face painting, games, prizes, hayrides, etc. Towards the end of the evening, Grace came running across the field towards me, [...]
I am the heart contracted by joy .. I am the one whose love overcomes you, already with you, when you think to call my name … (Jane Kenyon) Grace, Whit, I hope you will always remember this trip … The rides, the winning of Lego the enormous green bear, the fact that your first [...]
“One day, in retrospect, the years of struggle will strike you as the most beautiful.” – Sigmund Freud Many thanks to Anthony Lawlor, from whom I found this quote on Twitter. I do believe this to be true, absolutely, though it’s so incredibly difficult to remember in the moments where the struggle seems overwhelming. The [...]
Yesterday Grace, Whit and I went back to Storyland. Our first visit was nothing short of magical and I wanted to experience that again. I am determined to jam this summer that I’m not working full of memories for the children. I’m anxious about what reality will look like once I go back to work, [...]
Grace, Whit and I went to Story Land for two days. We explored the park, leaving no ride, show, or exhibit untested. We stayed in a hotel. We swam. We went out for dinner. We had whipped cream on our waffles this morning. More about this magical visit another day. But I learned one simple [...]
I’m still a bit too raw from this week to write anything. It has been the earthquake I expected. A bunch of small changes, endings, none of them enormous in and of themselves, have added up to something that feels seismic. I am trying to rest and catch my breath. My beloved sister is in [...]
It is most certainly the end of the beginning. I don’t have a Beginner anymore. And I no longer have both children in the Morse Building, where the very youngest children are. Sob. Gracie moves up to 2nd grade in September, for which I have to drop her off at the gate. And Whit goes [...]
Today is the last day of school. If history is any indication I will be crying by 8:40 (the end of year assembly starts at 8:30). Full report tomorrow. For now: my two favorite pictures of the first day of school, September 2009. Seems like a lifetime ago and yesterday at the same time.
Grace had two friends over after school today. They were rowdy, and I may have possibly raised my voice just a wee bit. They were just being excitable seven year olds. But our house is small and they were rambunctious and I was annoyed. Anyway, I let Grace have it. She knew I was not [...]
