Beyond Parenting

I hadn’t a clue what to expect, but I kind of like adventuring into new experiences this way. Ecstatic dance was something I only heard of in the metaphysical/holistic wellness space. I guess I envisioned hippies spinning about propelled by chimes and rhythmic drums....

I have a busy mind. It’s creative and enjoys processing—and sometimes overprocessing—things. From life choices, goals and dreams to what I want for dinner... or how I’ll get through security with my 8-ounce lotion. It’s a lot to live in my mind. In a recent effort to...

Journaling: the gift you didn’t realize you needed until it’s experienced. Long ago, people would write letters to one another and document arduous journeys in leather-bound journals. It’s how much of our history was uncovered. Photos only capture a moment in time and...

It was supposed to be a simple ride on my e-bike. Just a short, post-school jaunt through the woods on a crisp Halloween afternoon. I had plenty of time to spare before meeting friends for drinks, and the fall weather was too perfect to pass up. But that simple ride...

For years I resisted the allure of the e-bike revolution, convinced it was just a shortcut for the lazy. A bike ride with the press of a button? How could that be real exercise? These were my thoughts, and likely the ones people have as I blow past them while riding...

We’re going on a bear hunt I’ve got my binoculars I’m not scared —“Bear Hunt” by Kiboomers Teaching preschoolers full time has been an enlightening experience for me on so many levels. One of the greatest lessons came through a child’s song. Sometimes you just have to...

They dip in and out All day long. Fridge opens, closes. Snack drawer empty. Dirty dishes dwell. Phone, friends, gym, work, sleep. Cars up, down driveway. Doors opening, closing all hours.  Dull music thumps. Late night laughter. They sleep like the dead. We share...

I am a woman of dichotomy. I like to move, but I can be a sloth in a heartbeat. I enjoy vegan and organic food, but could drive through a McDonald’s without a blink. I meditate, journal and yoga regularly, but also need deep house or funk music to take my body to...

The age of an empty-nester seems to align with turning 50, a birthday worthy of festive jubilee! Over the past two years, I have attended several 50th birthday “events,” including my own, and I’ve come to the conclusion that turning 50 is very similar to turning 21....

She used to walk with us into the woods daily. I’d sit at the sliding glass door and wait as patiently as I could, but body wiggles always gave away my excitement. My brothers and I would clamor on top of one another to be the first to exit after she slid the door...

Every now and again, reminders of all she has given come streaming back. The clouds clear and small reels of life are revealed. Late nights waking with a sick child—all the worry and fretting. Hours searching grocery aisles for healthy lunchbox options, dinners and...

I used to bust out paints and crafts for my daughter when she was younger. Our kitchen table covered in newspaper was a creative frenzy of happiness. Paint bottles strewn about alongside used brushes, markers, paper and scissors. Prior to a creative session, we’d...