Published Work

Dec 26, 2017 Motherhood, Published Work Post a Comment

Part of the Time, Life’s Mighty Good

Then, something miraculous happened. My dad emailed me a direct line to the past. My uncle had come across a typed essay my grandma, my new baby’s namesake, had submitted to Reader’s Digest sometime in the mid-1960s....

Dec 03, 2018 Motherhood, Published Work Post a Comment

My Baby Spent Her First Christmas in the Hospital with RSV

It was December 24th. We were new parents who, only an hour earlier, were debating whether or not to take our new baby to the doctor for what seemed like a bad cold. The worry about being “those parents” who overreacted was quickly replaced with new worry as we barreled towards the downtown Chicago...

May 04, 2018 Motherhood, Published Work Post a Comment

You Should Be In the Picture Too, Mom

What we often forget, as mothers, is that we are part of this captured story. Yes, our kids will treasure the photos with their siblings. They will laugh at their outfits and their awkward stages. I hope mine will smile at the memories. But where will they see their mom in the visual storybook of...

Kindling the Curiosity of the Interesting Kid

Feb 24, 2018 Growing Up, Published Work Post a Comment

Kindling the Curiosity of an “Interesting” Kid

Cheerios, jellied cranberries and vanilla ice cream: the three food groups my little brother ate growing up. He was the third of four kids and I’m sure my mom just thought, well at least he’s eating something. This same brother of mine just got married and, as my parents described to the guests at...

Oct 26, 2017 Growing Up, Published Work Post a Comment

A Perfect Attendance Trophy Still Counts

When my parents downsized their house, my mom seemed overjoyed that she could finally unload the boxes of memorabilia she’d amassed throughout my childhood. My husband received a similar delivery from his mom when we got married. Both were unsentimental send-offs of stuff to the rightful owners. We moved these unopened boxes from apartment...

May 15, 2018 Motherhood, Published Work Post a Comment

My Boss Called Me Back to the Office a Week After Giving Birth

The question caught me completely off guard. “Well, I guess since she’s still in the hospital, I could come in this week,” I heard myself answer as a lump formed in my throat. My boss had called my cell as my mom and I were driving to visit my newborn daughter in the hospital NICU....

May 02, 2018 Motherhood, Published Work Post a Comment

To the Girl in the Belly Bump Photo

I want to tell her so much, because six years seems like both a lifetime and a minute ago, as fresh as it is faded. I can’t tell her everything, though, she has to live it to learn it, but if I could just tell her something, I w...

Discovering the Natural in the Unnatural Birth

Jan 18, 2018 Motherhood, Published Work Post a Comment

Discovering the Natural in an “Unnatural Birth”

I’ve never been good with blood—or pain for that matter. I’ve fainted while ripping off a Band-Aid, getting a flu shot, and reading the vampire birth scene from the third Twilight book. I was even wary of reading ahead in What to Expect When You’re Expecting during my first pregnancy because I didn’t want...

Sep 09, 2017 Motherhood, Published Work Post a Comment

When an Old Scar Reveals a New Truth About Motherhood

Most births have a “plan” and mine was fairly simple: Give me the drugs and we’ll go from there. What I never expected was my husband and I driving home from our first birthing class, imagining what lay ahead of us, and having my water suddenly break all over the passenger seat. I remember...

Nov 26, 2018 Family & Home, Published Work Post a Comment

Dear Husband, I’m Sorry for What I Said When I Was Parenting

I’m sorry if I ever let one goodbye or good night pass so steeped in anger, that I didn’t say “I love you”. Because love and gratitude are at the heart of this life we’ve built. You chose me and I chose you and together we chose this life. I’m so grateful for its...