I dropped the paperwork on my desk in an exhausted heap. It landed on top of another pile of forms, scattered haphazardly across the space. This buried an additional pile of documents, each with more pressure, disguised as helpful guidance, for parents trying to educate their children at home. Even with the support of their … [Read more…]
“If I leave the ingredients and a twenty on your porch, can you make dinner for my family?” “Well, sure!” I responded, glad to see my friend’s relieved look. He was the oldest of four boys, whose wise mother required her sons to cook each weeknight. My friend, all the wiser, decided to outsource his … [Read more…]
As the most trusted profession, we must learn to trust ourselves, and to recognize our limits as we provide compassionate care to our entrusted patients.
The length of a shopping cart seems like enough distance. I wait outside in the crisp March air, as a line snakes around the Costco entrance. The store doesn’t open for another 20 minutes; this seems foreboding at best. A stream of texts ping through on my phone, and while most of them are forgotten … [Read more…]
Since, truly, I knew that my role, the one that I’d been anticipating all these years, was just starting. Now, we got to raise our girls.
In our attempts to move away from urgency, I’m reminded that being thoughtful does not mean that we have become complacent, defeated, or lazy. Instead, we attempt to move through life giving attention where it’s deserved. If we are always multi-tasking, hurried, and rushed, there is little space to be thoughtful. By savoring the moments we have in front of us, we can contribute to the hidden blessings already in our midst.
The orthodontist walked confidently into our small space, outfitted in goggles, mask, and face shield. Even behind all the protective equipment, he seemed to be smiling. “Tell me something that is bringing you joy in the midst of virtual school.” The sassy side of my brain kicked in, as it frequently does when I am … [Read more…]
Girls, your parents are in uncharted territory. We are making decisions that, on some scale, parents have never had to make before. As we face the choice of if, and how, to send you to school this fall, there is a barrage of questions. And if adults feel that they are under the microscope while … [Read more…]
We can enact change, within our hearts and in the greater world. And though these small actions might not lead to a stacked resume, or an Instagram-worthy feed, the ripple effect of their positive contribution may prove to leave a much larger impact.
If other parents are smiling on skis and making snow angels,
why I am pulling my hair out before lunch? And then, further down the path of guilt, I worry that my
children will only have memories of a cranky, overwhelmed mother. Not graceful pictures captured in the snow, but a frazzled, frustrated grouch.