Jasper. (Almost) Four. (Definitely) Wonderful.

In mere days, my youngest guy- my youngest anyone– will turn four years old. He is my baby. The smallest in the family, sure, but also the one I let things…slide for. I admit it. I never understood it until I had a decided LAST in the family, but once we agreed that our family was complete, he firmly became our “baby.” (When P.J. and I started dated we spoke about having “at least five” hahahahahaha. That lasted until I was {Read More}

Here’s what’s making me cry this week.

I’ll admit it, I’m a happy crier. I’ll admit even more: I’m a happy crier who used to mock my own mother’s “isn’t this beautiful” welling-up at ads, movies, D.A.R.E. graduations, and so on. But in light of the fact that there’s been so much sad crying lately (and angry crying and incredulous crying and and and…), I’ll cheerfully put my reformed ways out in the open. Most recently, I happy-cried at the Goodman’s beautiful ‘A Christmas Carol,’ during the {Read More}

Thankful…

I’m thankful for so many, many things. My children- and their health, kind hearts, and continued safety as they grow. My husband- who’s so awfully good at reading between the lines that he’s able to help me complete each page and chapter beautifully (and with a minimum of asking questions like “What happened to all the bourbon/are those new shoes?”) My friends- and, more specifically, never-ending text chains with a carefully curated group of awesome texters. We live in the {Read More}

#TruthTime, October edition

Here’s what I’ve learned this month. You’re never quite as alone as you think. When you stand at a front window and stare into the middle distance while eating fistful upon fistful of your child’s Halloween candy in some semblance of pajama/work at home attire, you will appear to the casual passerby on the street like an absolutely terrifying (and confusing) apparition. (“You heard about THAT house, right? They say she died with fun-sized Baby Ruths clutched to her chest…”) {Read More}

Happy birthday/thank you/I’m so, so sorry.

It’s that time of year again, you guys! (For those of you playing along at home, one possible answer is: Celebration Month. This is also true. Between Susannah and Nora and P.J.’s birthdays- and subsequent celebrations which rarely ever happen on the birthdays themselves, nothatwouldbeCRAZY– and Halloween and Halloween school parties and Halloween other parties, we should probably just rename the month Sugar: (But Maybe With A Festive Gift Bag.) But no. Today I’d like to specifically focus on and fete {Read More}

Saying “nope.”

I have this fantasy. Stick with me, here. It involves having an automated email response set up for one whole day, the kind that knows how to accept emails I’m excited to get from family, friends, and work ops that’d be fulfilling, and filter out the multitude which are weird, offensive, stupid, unpaid, unpaid AND unethical, ask for my help getting the unpaid and unethical stuff “to the right department,” or follow up to my “that won’t work/that’s not a {Read More}

What kind of friend am I?

Am I a good person? I’ve been wondering that a whole bunch lately. (You know, in between posts about how everything is falling apart, excessive birthday sentimentality, and the nonstop parade of theatrical endeavors. God bless you, nonstop parade of theatrical endeavors.) And no, I’m not looking for a bolstering message of- Oh my GAWD, you are SUCH a good person. Because I mostly know. Not that I’m “good,” per se, but that I’m kind. I don’t kick people and {Read More}

Six years of Suzy

Dear Susannah, Hey baby girl, happy birthday. Six! SIX. Exactly six years ago we met, and the squirming, kicking, cantaloupe-and-liverwurst-craving boy I had been so sure I was having… …turned out to be a rosy-cheeked, blonder-than-blonde dollface of a ladybug. You, kiddo. Since then, things have gotten pretty noisy. Since then, things have gotten pretty wonderful. I love how your heart leaps out of your chest to comfort a crying classmate, a meowing kitten, or a UPS guy who maybe {Read More}