My son is 16 and embarking on his next chapter to figure out how to navigate the college application process. So far it's all about achievements rather than character, and purpose is measured in empirical terms. I think purpose is about lifelong learning and curiosity, not about … [Read more...] about Nurture Purpose in Teens
Dirt and Noise
Mom Activists Are a Force — “From Changing Diapers to Changing the World”
Truth be told, I’ve been woefully disengaged. It’s a symptom of being disenchanted, disgruntled, disheartened. The weight of goings-on in my community, my state, and my country have left me feeling deflated. I’ve been feeling like my voice, no matter how loud, is muted. There are … [Read more...] about Mom Activists Are a Force — “From Changing Diapers to Changing the World”
Write On
It used to be that my pen was my comfort. I wrote when I felt stressed, overwhelmed, sad, pretty much any time I had big feelings, I wrote. This has been a lifelong habit, even from when I was a little girl crafting background stories for every doll in my collection. I have … [Read more...] about Write On
Brown Girl in a White World…No More
You’ve all heard me talk plenty about otherness and onlyness. I’ve spent most of my 53 years othered and onlyed. My self-esteem was ravaged in my youth, and it's a little tattered well into my adulthood too. I’m not sure where any of my confidence comes from. Out of necessity, I … [Read more...] about Brown Girl in a White World…No More
Dimmed Spirits
This year, my Christmas spirit has a flavor peppered with longing, fatigue, and melancholy. Gone is the typical sweetness of the season. Rather than anticipation, I feel dread. A cloud of worry casts its shadow overhead. Actually, it’s more of an all-consuming fog. Time is fluid. … [Read more...] about Dimmed Spirits
Showing Compassion is a Teen Milestone
I admittedly didn’t think of exhibiting compassion as a milestone during the teen years, but when I saw it in my son, it was a staggering revelation. It was during recent events around our national racial reckoning that I saw true compassion unveiled in my teenage son. We had … [Read more...] about Showing Compassion is a Teen Milestone
Missing My (Not So) Little Boy
Fresh air is fuel. I took a walk around the park in my neighborhood the other day to feel the invigorating breeze of early autumn and to clear my head. My son has been away at school 800 miles away for about two months now. Parents' weekend came and went. We already had plans to … [Read more...] about Missing My (Not So) Little Boy