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I do my best worrying in the car on the few occasions when I’m driving somewhere alone. I usually turn the radio on, not to enjoy the music, but instead in an attempt to drown out the To Do list that floods my thoughts. I do my best writing in the bath, although the writingContinue reading “A Mama’s Retreat”

While so many of my students returned from Spring Break feeling rejuvenated from two weeks vacationing in such places as Florida, California, and St. Barts, I returned feeling thoroughly exhausted after staycationing in Michigan.  I had grand plans to not only enjoy adventures with the littles and keep up with the regular chores, but toContinue reading “Spring Break(down)”

Unlike his brothers, Camden Tate had a name mere months into the pregnancy – the result of learning his sex ahead of time and knowing without a doubt that Dan and I needed to agree upon a name befitting a boy.  As we had with Keats and Wren, we wanted Baby #3 to have aContinue reading “Behind the Name, part 3”

Mere days – two, if memory serves me – before Wren\’s early arrival, I arrived early at my prenatal yoga class.  Sitting in the car on Greenwood Avenue, iPhone in hand, I used the gift of a few quiet minutes to search for inspiration for a name. Dan and I had planned a water deliveryContinue reading “Behind the Name, part 2”

Five and a half years ago, I sat in an Italian restaurant in Seattle, one of many women gathering to celebrate a friend who, with marriage on the horizon, was about to write a new chapter of her life.  I, too, was in the process of writing a new chapter of my life, a fewContinue reading “Maternal Musings”

Dan and I joke about naming Baby #3 something unexpected – unexpected for us, at least – like…Bob.  Keats, Wren, and Bob.  While this might satisfy a certain much older family member who lamented to another relative, \”Why couldn\’t they have chosen a nice, normal name like John or David?\” when we chose yet anotherContinue reading “Behind the Name, part 1”

This story could begin in so many places. It could begin in 2000 at Interlochen Arts Camp when the dozen adolescent girls who were under my care pooled their meager resources together for Counselor Appreciation Day, offering me a card and a beautiful bouquet of flowers to \”Mother Katie.\”  I was gratified and humbled byContinue reading “Gender Reveal”

Life kept dropping breadcrumbs at my feet: 1. At a professional workshop exploring Executive Functions, the presenter articulated that lack of sleep drastically impacts attention – and attention encompasses mental energy, processing, and production. 2.  A TedEd video entitled \”How Chronic Stress Affects the Brain\” began with the following: Are you sleeping restlessly, feeling irritableContinue reading “On Postpartum Depression”

Photo credit: Krisztina Papp This post began its life as an activity log meant for no one but Dan and me, written on a day last June that epitomized the challenges of stay-at-home motherhood.  We had just moved into our house, simultaneously attempting to settle into our new home while sprucing up our nearby condoContinue reading “Peanut Butter Ice Cream/A Day in the Life”

One year.  Wow.  One year. January 21, 2015 is so vivid in my memory: a clear chaos of suitcases, goodbyes, and (naturally) a final latte at SeaTac. One year ago today, I closed a distinct chapter of my life.  Twelve months down the road and thousands of miles across the country, I\’ve gained enough distanceContinue reading “Michiganniversary”