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Late in December, I threatened to wrap Wren in bacon and throw him out the window. You see, the previous week, I\’d happened to stroll into the kitchen just as Dan was struggling with the bacon-wrapped turkey recipe he\’d selected for the carnivorous members of the family to devour on Christmas Day.  He was, indeed,Continue reading “The Shadow Self”

I fell in love three years ago. We first met in 2004, a brief encounter that left little impression.  When we saw each other again in 2008, I began to suspect that maybe, just maybe this friendship would go somewhere.  In 2009, fueled by visits to the ubiquitous coffee shops that seemingly stood on eachContinue reading “Where the Heart Is”

In the spirit of the season, I thought I’d write about presence.  And yes, I meant to spell it that way. Presence has been on my mind a lot lately. I returned to work on Monday, bidding adieu to both my maternity leave and my little boys.  The transition back is strange because it’s soContinue reading “The Gift of Presence”

From the air, England is a patchwork quilt.  My heart always leaps in excitement as the scraps of green fields first appear through the clouds.  Sewn together by hedgerows and hemmed by motorways, there\’s an unrivaled beauty in the haphazard patches that reach away into the horizon. We arrived back in Seattle this morning afterContinue reading “England On My Mind”

Super Nanny used to make it look easy. This was in my pre-motherhood days. Not only did she exude confidence and consistency in the timeouts she orchestrated, but she did so whilst maintaining her own calm.  Before children, as I watched the occasional Super Nanny episode, I applauded her and rolled my eyes at theContinue reading “Time Out”

I could look in the mirror and see a six week postpartum bulge flanked by thin ribbons of purple pregnancy stretch marks.  Instead, I see a beautiful belly that housed my little Wren for almost 37 weeks flanked by equally beautiful birthmarks, not my own, but Wren\’s – evidence that marks the special place myContinue reading “Perspective”

The following narrative is a piece that I submitted to a writing contest last autumn.  It explores some of the challenges I faced throughout my first year of parenthood as I learned to balance time with my own child and time with other people\’s children (Note: I changed the names of the other people\’s childrenContinue reading “Letting Go”

I just told a lie. The barista asked, \”How\’s it going?\” and I chirpily replied, \”All right, thanks!\” I\’ve been telling lies for two weeks. You see, I inherited my granddad\’s ears, my dad\’s eyes, my mum\’s eyebrows, and the stiff upper lip that is unintentionally passed down to every Englishman and woman.  That stiffContinue reading “Truth and Lies”

My writing is supposed to focus on travel, teaching, and Tanners, but the larger theme that keeps emerging is one of connectivity. Today is my Writing Wednesday.  My friend, Sarah, and I sit across from each other at Elliott Bay Cafe, flanked by the remnants of my decaf latte, her brimming cup of tea, andContinue reading “Catching Our Breath”

I\’m in awe of how much the uterus expands in preparation for bringing a baby into the world.  In 40 weeks, it increases to 20 times its initial weight and 1,000 times its initial capacity.  Currently at 27 weeks, Baby weighs two pounds and is – in produce terms – approximately the size of aContinue reading “Matters of the Heart”