The other day, when we were on our way to the grocery store, you asked me a question. Whenever you ask a question, it doesn’t sound like a question. It sounds like an announcement because you don’t lilt your voice at the end or change your tone at all. How do. Grown-ups have it. The […]
Here’s the thing, Jack-a-boo. Sometimes I’m not really sure how to parent you. I mean, parenting is hard enough as it is. But you, well, you are just the tiniest but different from the rest of the kids. And I mean that in the nicest possible way. How do I mother a child who doesn’t […]
Do you ever wish you could see inside other people’s marriages? You know, like if they fight about changing the toilet paper roll or who spends more money at the grocery store or whether or not it’s time to throw away the smelly sponge sitting in the kitchen sink? I do. I wish I knew […]
“I’m thrilled to have Jack start our summer program. I just don’t know if he’ll be able to go on the camping trip the second week with the group. It’s for two nights, and I’m not sure he’ll be ready,” the program director said kindly. “No,” I cradled the phone against my shoulder while I […]
Dear Jack, Things are better lately–just the tiniest bit better. I think it’s because your new medicine is working. These past few weeks, you remind me of a deep-sea diver coming up for air. Sure, sometimes you still retreat back down into the deep, murky waters, but you spend more and more time on dry land with the […]
“Hey Carrie, it’s me, Sandy. Listen, I had an idea for you—” Sandy is a dog trainer.We started to work with her after we got our puppy,Wolfie, because we have no idea what we’re doing. “Oh, I’m so glad you called! I’m kind of worried he doesn’t like his food. He isn’t eating it as fast. […]
“Okay, I should be home in ten minutes,” I told my husband, Joe, last Wednesday evening. It was about 6:00, and I was leaving Barnes & Noble so we could all go out for dinner. “Great. Everyone’s hungry.” But when I walked in the door ten minutes later, it was chaos. Charlie and Henry were crying on the […]
Last Friday night Joe had four tickets to a Monster Truck rally in town, which meant we had to decide which of the kids he should take. This was an easier decision than you might imagine. Rose smiled sweetly and shook her head when I asked if she was interested, and Jack politely declined, which […]
The bedroom door opens with a creak and a very young boy steps out into the darkened hallway. Just shy of three, this boy is tall for his age and sturdy in build, wearing multicolored pajamas that are too short for him. He quietly steps to the landing of the staircase and begins to descend. The […]
We took the kids to the Outback for dinner last week, and after two trips to the bathroom, Jack said he needed to go again. “No,” Joe told him. “You can’t possibly need to go again.” “But. I have to!” “Sit down and wait,” Joe suggested. “Your dinner will be here in just a minute.” […]